April 15, 1943-March 22, 2023
Durward “Du ” Harvey Wadsworth, 79, of Hurricane, Utah, passed away in his safe nurturing home being cared for by his family after a long and valiant battle with colon cancer.
Durward was born on April 15, 1943, in Hurricane, Utah, to Carl Eugene and Leah Ballard Wadsworth in an apartment above the Eugene Theater (“the Show House”), owned by his parents. The day after his birth, Hurricane residents were given free entrance to the movie theater to celebrate the birth. He was the fourth of six children and spent his childhood in Hurricane working on the family farm, helping run the family show house, eating copious amounts of popcorn and cavorting all over southern Utah with friends and cousins.
Du attended Hurricane High School (class of 1961), where he developed lifelong friendships and an appreciation for learning. His childhood was an idyllic time. The only blot was the loss of his father, Gene Wadsworth, to a massive heart attack in 1960.
As a college student at the College of Southern Utah, Du earned degrees in social work and elementary education. He taught in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Washington County, Utah, as an elementary school teacher for 30 years, retiring in 2003, beloved by his students for his dry sense of humor and adoration of Louis L’Amour.
He married Gwendolyn Brady Wadsworth, his best part, on July 15, 1976, in the Manti Temple, Utah. They spent almost 47 years of marriage picking fruit, going to Lake Powell, traveling and spending time with their fantasticfive 5 children and 18 grandchildren. Their children gave them a run for their money at times but have all turned out to be fine outstanding citizens.
Durward was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving a full-time mission to the Gulf States Mission from 1962-64. Du even slept through a hurricane in New Orleans on his mission and lived to tell the tale. He served in many church callings, including a bishopric and as a bishop. He was a rock to his family, always fulfilling his priesthood duties and going where he was called, a kind and gentlemanly friend.
He was a devoted husband, father, brother and grandfather. After retirement, he planted 300 peaches with his brother, John. He skillfully pruned the trees and sold the fruit each summer. Going fishing and checking on the cattle with buddies were some of his favorite pastimes. It was referred to as going to the mountain to get a drink of water.
Traveling was a favorite hobby; Durward and wife had great adventures traveling to New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, Egypt and Jordan. He loved going to Kolob and Smith’s Mesa (his grandfather Harvey Ballard’s homestead).
Du is survived by his loving wife Gwen, children Elissa (Craig) Smith, Nicholas (Cristina) Wadsworth, Joshua (Heather) Wadsworth, Charish (Ryan) LeFevre and Levi (Audri) Wadsworth and 18 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, one brother and his best friend Bob Jepson.
There will be a viewing Sunday, March 26, from 5-7 p.m. and Monday, March 27, from 9:30-10:45 a.m. Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 27, at 11 a.m. All events will be held at the LDS Chapel located at 155 E. 1050 N., in Hurricane, Utah.
Family and friends are invited to share tributes online. Arrangements and memorial tree planting by Serenity Funeral Home of Southern Utah, 435-986-9100.