Garth Willard Atwood

Garth Willard Atwood passed away August 23rd in Ogden, Utah after an extensive battle with bone and prostate cancer. He was born June 18, 1922, in Vernal, Utah to Ivan Willard and Marie Hall Atwood.

Being the oldest child, Garth learned at a very young age to harness and drive a team of horses to do all of the farm work. By age 11 he was driving a 10 ton truck with 12 speeds forward, 7 in reverse and 3 gear shifts. Lessons learned on the 880 acre ranch they homesteaded on Diamond Mountain near Vernal gave him a work ethic that was a great blessing throughout his life.

He married the love of his life, Marjorie Lee Thurman, in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple, August 3, 1943. The first few years of their marriage, he worked at JC Penney in Salem, Oregon. He then served a stint in the Army's field artillery during World War II. Atwood went on to graduate from Western States Chiropractic School and School of Naturopathy, and then practiced in Baker, Oregon for awhile. He started his own practice in Buhl, Idaho in 1950.

People came from far and wide to be treated by Dr. Atwood who genuinely loved helping his patients, many times providing his healing services at his own expense. In addition to his Chiropractic practice, he farmed 80 acres at Black Bear corner in Buhl; raised and trained Arabian, Appaloosa and American Show horses.

Garth loved hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and camping, and swam a mile every day with his family at Banbury Hot Springs near Buhl. He was an avid private pilot, owning many different airplanes during his life while flying to all parts of our great country. Mountain and back-country flying was his passion.

Together, Dr. and Mrs. Atwood worked hard serving their community as active members the Jaycees, Kiwanis, PTA, Chamber of Commerce, Grange, and in establishing the College of Southern Idaho when it was located in Buhl. Additionally, Atwood also served in his profession "going up the chairs", and as the President of both the State and National Chiropractic Associations. In 1978, he moved his practice to Preston and then Mink Creek, Idaho when he entered semi-retirement.

Dr. Atwood served as a Bishop in the LDS Church, served a full-time mission in Texas with Marge, and loved to work in various temples of the Church. Marge passed away in August of 1999. Garth then married Ida Frodsham of Burley, Idaho. Later, in 2008 he married Doris Stock of Ogden, Utah who loving stood by his side through these trying times.

Garth is survived by his five children, Linda (Diamond) Loosli of Syracuse, Utah, Betty Jo (Dale) Quigley of Twin Falls, Idaho, Beverly (Dr. Trent) Harrison of Taylorsville, Utah, Mary Sue (Steve) Crookston of Preston, Idaho, and John (Susan) Atwood of Bristol, Virginia, along with 27 grandchildren and 79 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings, Ella (Arvel) Allred of Vernal, Utah, Marvel (Dick) Kearsley of Ogden, Utah, Alice (Lee) Mecham of Redding, California, and Charles (Linda) Atwood of Tillamook, Oregon.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Garth's life on Saturday, Aug. 28th, viewing from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., service at 10:30 a.m. to be held in the Jensen Park LDS Chapel located at 3024 South 1200 West in Syracuse, Utah. He will be laid to rest at 5 p.m. after grave-side services in the Rock Creek Cemetery located in Vernal, Utah. Services under the direction of Myers Mortuary of Layton.
VisitationJensen Park Ward Chapel
3024 South 1200 West
Syracuse, UT
August 28, 2010
9:00 AM - 10:15 AM
ServiceJensen Park LDS Ward Chapel
3024 South 1200 West
Syracuse, UT
August 28, 2010
10:30 AM
CemeteryRock Creek Cemetery

Vernal, UT
August 28, 2010
5:00 PM