Calvin Keith Sudweeks passed away peacefully in Salt Lake City, Utah, on December 29, 2021 (on his beloved wife’s birthday). Our loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather was born on April 22, 1926 in Springville, Utah, to Calvin Sudweeks and Thelma M Nielson. He was raised in Ephraim, Utah, along with siblings, Shirley, Dean and Duane. Keith was married to Virginia Barton in the Manti LDS Temple in 1948. They had four children, Barbara, Allen, Linda and Catherine.
Keith served in the Army Air Corps during WWII. He attended Snow College in1946 and Utah State Agricultural College from 1946-50 where he earned a Bachelors Degree in Civil Engineering. He attended Harvard University in 1956-57 obtaining a Masters Degree in Environmental Engineering. He worked most of his professional career for the Utah State Department of Health and was the Director of the State’s water quality programs from 1958 until his retirement in 1987.
Keith served as president of ASIWPCA and was known fondly as the Father of Water Quality by many in his field. After he retired, a Sudweeks award was given annually to an outstanding individual through their contributions to Water Quality. Their achievements were shown through leadership and volunteer work and were showcased at the local, state or national level.
Keith was active in the LDS church where he served as ward finance clerk, Stake High Councilman, Bishops counselors, Bishop, Stake membership clerk and Stake History specialist. He and Virginia also served an LDS mission in Nauvoo, Ill. from 1990-91.
A few things about Keith:
• He was a pilot and loved to fly.
• He loved to go camping with his family and spend weekends fishing and waterskiing at East Canyon Reservoir.
• He loved to take his family on annual trips to Yellowstone.
• He took the family on a memorable trip to Great Slave Lake in the NW Territories of Canada.
• He could build and fix anything.
• He loved animals and was a dog magnet.
• He played the violin and had a beautiful tenor voice.
• He played the guitar and sang Burl Ives folk tunes with his children and grandchildren.
Keith is survived by his four children: Barbara Ann Sudweeks of Dallas, TX; Allen Keith Sudweeks of Peoria, AZ; Linda (Larry) Montgomery of SLC, UT; and Catherine Wilson of SLC, UT. He is also survived by his sister, Shirley Cox and his brother, Dean Sudweeks. He has been blessed with 16 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild. He is preceded in death by his wife, Virginia and brother, Duane.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, January 6th at 11:00 a.m. at the Mountain View 1st Ward, 1400 South 1900 East. There will be a viewing from 9:30-10:30 a.m. that morning.
There will also be a viewing on Wednesday evening, January 5th, from 6:00-8:00 p.m., at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary, 3401 Highland Drive, Millcreek, Utah.
Interment is at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Primary Children’s Hospital.
