November 5, 1921 ~ April 5, 2013
Our beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother passed away on April 5, 2013. On November 5, 1921, he was born in the Holy Cross Hospital in Salt Lake City. He was the first of two sons born to Vernell Moody and Nathan Davis Thatcher Jr. Winston spent his childhood living in a home on 537 Douglas Street, which was just below the University of Utah Campus. He attended many schools in the Salt Lake School District including: Douglas Elementary, Stewart Training Academy and East High School. He graduated from the University of Utah in 1942 with a bachelor of arts in chemistry.
He was a member of the "Greatest Generation." During World War II, Winston served as a first Lieutenant as a forward observer in the 91st Infantry Division in Italy. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his heroic action and devotion to duty. He considered his military service one of the greatest achievements in his life. Winston passed his devotion to his country to his children. He was one of the University of Utah's eleven honorees on Veteran's Day 2011.
Following the war, Winston worked for the family business, Wasatch Chemical, where he drove trucks and managed chemical production and delivery and many other duties. Here at work is where he met his sweetheart, Lucille, when she was employed as a typist in the office.
He married Lucille Giauque on June 14, 1948, later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple. They would have celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this June. They purchased a duplex near Liberty Park with his brother, Lawrence, and his wife, Helen, and lived there until they moved to the East Millcreek area in 1954. They built their dream home on Willmott Drive. This neighborhood was home to the family for 47 years; there they enjoyed the relationships of wonderful neighbors, friends and Valley View 5th Ward members.
In 1967, Winston and his brother Lawrence established their own chemical company, Thatcher Chemical. It was truly a family business. His daughters remember working side by side with their father, uncle and cousins, and still hold those times dear to their hearts.
He had a lifelong love of nature and the great outdoors (especially the Uintah Mountains). As a boy, he enjoyed many summers on the family farm in Deseret, Utah, which led to his love of horses.
Winston was a member of the Sugar House Rotary Club from 1951 until 1997 where he served in many leadership positions and maintained a 100% weekly attendance for 38 straight years. He enjoyed long-lasting relationships from this association. He was also a proud member of the Sons of the Utah Pioneers; his pioneer heritage was a source of strength in his life.
Winston's love of sports began as a very young boy where he would sit in the rafters at the Deseret Gym watching the "Runnin' Utes" practice. He was a dedicated "Utah Man" throughout his life; he attended many events and was later named a Utah Super Fan with a ceremony at center court.
He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in many callings which include: executive secretary to two bishoprics, teaching the High Priests Quorum and serving in the Salt Lake Temple with his wife.
His greatest accomplishment was his family. At the time of his death, he was father to seven children, 28 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren, the latest coming into the world the day he left it.
He is survived by his sweetheart Lucille and his seven children, Karen (Al) Nugent, Anne (John V.) Jackman, Carolyn (Gary) Whipple, Tricia (Todd) Davis, Susan (Patrick D.) Orr, Gayle (Bruce M.) Larson and Trent (Amy Mather) Thatcher and his brother Lawrence E. (Helen) Thatcher.
A viewing will be held Tuesday, April 9, 2013 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary, 3401 South Highland Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah. Funeral services will be held at the Valley View Ward House at 2125 East Evergreen Avenue on Wednesday April 10, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. A viewing will be held prior to the services from 9:30-10:30 a.m.
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