Eunice was born on November 22, 1925 the fourth of seven children of Willard Whipple and Reva Truth Harris Whipple of El Paso, Texas. She was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and her family was part of the very first ward in Texas. Eunice attended Austin High School, and when she was 16, her mother died. Her father married his widowed neighbor Ellen Bowen Mullen, who brought her four children, including Eunice’s best friend Barbara, into the family.
Eunice dated soldiers stationed at Ft. Bliss and one of these, Charles “Chick” Symons Anderson from Salt Lake City, became her eternal partner. They married on November 14, 1944 in the Mesa Arizona Temple, settled in Salt Lake City, and in time had six children: Reva Janile, Ronald Whipple, Betty Lou, Lamont Whipple, Brian Whipple, and Spencer Whipple. Charles and Eunice were husband and wife for 64 years before his death in June 2009.
Her faith and devotion to the Savior and His church was unwavering. Eunice showed that faith every day by the way she lived her life, loving and serving others. She accepted many callings in the Church. Her favorites were leading the Primary and helping to make sure meals were provided for those in the ward in their times of need, often providing those meals herself.
Eunice was very proud of her professional career. She worked as an electrical assembler at Sperry UNIVAC for more than two decades, eventually rising to the role of manager and retiring in 1980. When Sperry later became Unisys, she joked that it was “Eunice’s.”
She had a beautiful soprano voice and loved to sing. She was a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir from 1951 to 1972 and traveled to many countries during her tenure. Eunice enjoyed singing with other women in trios and quartets and organized family talent shows. She was an active member of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers for many years. She also liked gardening and birds, and her enchiladas were famous.
Eunice was preceded in death by her parents, eight of her siblings, and her husband, Charles. She is survived by her brother Gerald, her children and their spouses: Reva Janile (Gordon) Davis of Salt Lake City, Ronald Anderson of Salt Lake City, Betty Lou (Bart) Atwell of Las Vegas, Nevada, Lamont (Carolee) Anderson of Preston, Idaho, Brian (Rebekah) Anderson of South Jordan, Utah, and Spencer Anderson of Citrus Heights, California, as well as 20 grandchildren, 57 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson. She loved each and every member of her family.
All who loved Eunice are invited to attend memorial services on Wednesday, December 7 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel at 4551 South 1200 East in Millcreek, Utah. The visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. and the funeral will start at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park (3401 South Highland Drive, Millcreek). In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity in honor of Eunice’s love of serving others.
