Josh's beautiful, smart and kind grandmother passed away last month. I miss her. I so admire her and the brave and determined choices she made during her life that shaped her into the strong and intelligent women that I knew and loved. Her example of righteous gospel living and her love for everyone that knew her will always be a testament to me of the love that Christ has for each of us. I am so grateful for the time we spent with her and grateful that our own Gwen, Mikayla and LJ were able to spend precious time with her in the year before she passed away.
The children loved their grandmother great. During the few months that we lived together, LJ would sneak away to his grandmother great's bedroom and he would talk with her about all the things that a 2-year-old (at the time) rattles on about. And she was truly interested.
Grandmother was always interested in what everyone was doing. Not because she was nosy, and not because it was simply polite to ask, but because she truly cared. Grandmother, we miss you. Thank you for being the example of the kind of woman I wish to be. We love you!
Gwendolyn Wirthlin McConkie Cannon
April 29, 1921 ~ July 4, 2013
Gwendolyn Wirthlin McConkie Cannon passed away July 4, 2013 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Born on April 29, 1921 to Joseph L. and Madeline Bitner Wirthlin, she shared a happy home with her brothers (Joseph B. Wirthlin, Richard B. Wirthlin, David B. Wirthlin) and sister (Judith W. Parker). The family was known for church service, community involvement, a remarkable work ethic, and commitment to, and love for, each other.
Gwen married James Wilson McConkie on May 16, 1944. Gwen and James lived in New York and Paris while James pursued advanced training to become a professor of music. They moved to Minnesota in 1951. In 1954, James died of polio, leaving Gwen to raise their three children (James, Kathleen, and Michele) alone.
She earned a Master of Science degree from the University of Utah in 1955 and her Doctorate of Education from Columbia University in 1959. In 1960 she married Philip Farnsworth Cannon, and a fourth child, Carolyn, was born. Phil's work took them to London where she lived for 26 years. She taught at Columbia University, Queens College (New York), and Goldsmith College (University of London).
Her life was marked by devotion to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, love of family, intellectual curiosity, good humor, refinement, service, and faith. Her children and grandchildren revered her as the matriarch of the family and relied on her for sound judgment, lively debates on political and religious issues, energetic support, and unconditional love. Her legacy of faith will be felt for generations. She will be missed every day.
She is survived by her son James Wilson McConkie II (Judith Miller); daughters Kathleen McConkie Collinwood (Dean); Michele McConkie Erekson (David); and Carolyn Farnsworth Cannon Miller (Eric); brother David B. Wirthlin (Anne); 18 grandchildren, and 43 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 13, 2013 at 10 a.m. at the East Mill Creek First Ward LDS Chapel, 2702 East Evergreen Avenue (3435 South), Salt Lake City, Utah 84109. Viewings will be at the Chapel from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., and on Friday, July 12, 2013 at Larkin Mortuary, 260 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Interment will be at the Salt Lake City Cemetery, 4th Avenue and N Street. Please leave online condolences for the family at www.larkinmortuary.com.
Published in Salt Lake Tribune from July 7 to July 11, 2013
