(February 16, 1922 – November 3, 2014)
Walter Gibson Wiest was born February 16, 1922, in Price, Utah, to Walter Emil Wiest and Irma Annette Gibson Wiest. He passed away of natural causes November 3, 2014, in Provo, Utah. He was preceded in death by his wife, Myrlene Romney; his brother Clinton; his son, Richard; and grandchildren: Anna, Nicolas and Colin Wiest. He is survived by his brother Earl; his children: David, Karen Anderson, Walter (Bud), Barton, Allyson Brown and Jennifer Christensen; as well as 34 grandchildren and 44 great grandchildren.
Walter grew up in Provo and graduated with a B.A. in Chemistry from Brigham Young University. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II. He received a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin in 1952. He became Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Utah and had a joint appointment in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. He retired from Washington University College of Medicine in 1987 and made his new home in St. George, Utah.
He served four missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, three of them with his sweetheart, Myrlene, in Boston, Atlanta, and St. Louis. He taught classes at Dixie College and served as a member of the St. George Arts Commission and as President of the Cotton Mission Chapter of Sons of Utah Pioneers in St. George. His callings as Bishop, Stake Patriarch, and Ordinance Worker and Sealer in the St. George Temple brought him great joy. He will be remembered by many as a loving father, respected leader, inspiring teacher and revered patriarch.
Funeral Services
- Funeral services will be held Saturday, Nov. 8, at 2 p.m. at the Bloomington Hills LDS Stake Center, 1130 East Brigham Road, St. George, Utah.
- A visitations will be held Friday, Nov. 7, from 6-8 p.m.at Metcalf Mortuary, 288 West St. George Blvd, St. George, Utah, and Saturday, Nov. 8, from 12:30-1:30 p.m. prior to services at the Stake Center.
- Interment will be at the Tonaquint Cemetery.
Arrangements entrusted to the care of Metcalf Mortuary, telephone 435-673-4221. For condolences, full obituary, and funeral listings please visit the Metcalf Mortuary website.