Carl Eugene Wadsworth

On August 29, 2024 the body of Carl Eugene Wadsworth, age 85, finally wore out and just quit. Carl was born in the apartment above the Eugene Theatre in Hurricane, Utah to Carl Eugene (Gene) and Leah Ballard Wadsworth on March 18, 1939 during the time Gene was serving as Mayor of Hurricane. Growing up in Hurricane, Carl worked at the movie theater and the family farms which produced peaches, apricots, hay, grain, cattle and sheep. He also spent much time working with his grandfather, Harvey Ballard, on his Smith Mesa dry farm. Carl attended elementary and High School in Hurricane where he was in the band, played football, was on the track team, and on the student council as Director of Activities. Carl became well educated, both in the classroom and in the “school of hard knocks.” After graduating from Hurricane High School, he attended the University of Utah and earned a BS degree. He later received M.S. and PhD degrees in Biology from Brigham Young University. Because of economic conditions and partly due to his own choices, Carl’s work experience was varied. He was a Ditch Rider and Water Master for the Hurricane Canal Company, he worked for an engineering company doing primarily environmental work. Carl was a Biology Teacher in Junior and Senior High Schools and during the summers worked as a Seasonal Ranger at Arches National Park and Timpanogos Cave National Monument. He also taught Biology at BYU-Hawaii, and Salt Lake Community College. Carl’s last job was with the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, from which he retired in 2004. After retiring, Carl went full circle by going back to work on the farm with his brothers, Durward and John raising peaches, apricots, and cattle. Carl always told people that he spent his working years looking for the perfect job and finally found it the day he retired. Carl was an active member in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints throughout his life. He served a mission to the Great Lakes Mission as a young man. Two weeks after returning from his mission he married his high school sweetheart, Vanda Fuller of LaVerkin, Utah. Vanda has been a great help mate and partner during all his different jobs, his many years of attending universities, and his church service. His church service included teaching, scouts, Elders Quorum presidency, High Priest Group leadership, High Council, and Bishop. He and Vanda also served a mission to San Jose, California. Carl served two terms on the Hurricane City Council, and has served on the Dixie Conservation District Board, been active on the Washington County Weed Board, and a member of the Virgin River Program Board. He and Vanda are the parents of six children: Wendy (Pete) West, Heidi (Scott) Hunsaker, Angela (Marcus) Trinite, Brenda Wadsworth (Matthew Peters), Carl Jr. (Jenny) Wadsworth, and Reuben (Melissa) Wadsworth who are all living happy, productive lives. Carl liked to tell everyone that he had 18 grandchildren and they are all boys except 16. Carl and Vanda also have 29 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held 12:00 p.m. Friday, September 6, 2024 at the Hurricane LDS church 677 South 700 West Hurricane, Utah, with a viewing from 10:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at the church. Burial will follow at the Hurricane City Cemetery. The link for the Funeral service: https://www.youtube.com/@hurricanestakebuilding6503

Carl Eugene Wadsworth

March 18, 1939 - August 29, 2024