Eldon Taylor McEntire, 27 March 1911

Eldon Taylor McEntire, cheerful father, grandpa and great grandpa passed from this life on April 16, 2002 in Logan, UT.

Eldon was born march 27, 1911 in Los Angeles, CA, first child of Marshall A. McEntire and Amy Taylor McEntire. In 1913 the family moved to Harrisville, UT and then later to Malad, ID where he spent most of his childhood. A move in 1928 took his family to Brigham City where he attended Box Elder High School and first met the Skidmore family. A year later the family moved to Salt lake City, UT where Eldon completed high school at the LDS College in 1929. He worked his way through the University of Utah and graduated with a B.S. degree in electrical engineering in 1934.

Eldon was first employed by the Salt Lake City water department in June of 1934 and enjoyed a long career there, working his way up to come chief engineer in 1952. Some of the water resources and systems now enjoyed by the City of Salt Lake were planned and overseen by him. McEntire Reservoir is named in his honor. During his career he solved a problem in the City Creek Canyon pipeline by inventing machines that were able to cut away inches of rock hard lime deposits in pipes to vastly improve flow delivery performance. He received a US patent on a variable speed electric motor and was a registered professional engineer and land surveyor. During World War II he worked at the Remington Arms plant.

On December 28, 1935, Eldon married Zella Skidmore in the Salt Lake Temple, ceremony by David O. McKay. In 1936, Eldon and Zella built their own home on the avenues and there raised a family of five children. They lived in that home for more than 63 years. He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served as an Ensign Stake Missionary, Scoutmaster and in various other callings. Later he drove the Temple Square tour bus for visitors who wanted to see Welfare Square. He took frequent trips to help his children. he often brought a suitcase of toys to share with grandchildren, who also loved his wonderful stories.

He was a long time member of Optimist International of Salt lake City. He shared his positive attitude towards life with everyone. He also enjoyed participating with the Sons of Utah Pioneers. His great love was fixing things on his farm in Charleston, UT which he managed as a family partnership. He was inventive with farm machinery and water sprinkling and pumping systems.

His children and their spouses are: James Eldon McEntire (deceased) (Nancy), Mary Louise Wirthlin (LeRoy), Robert Henry McEntire (Elana), Carol Ann Penman, and Marilyn Brinton (Richard). He had 38 grandchildren and 62 great grandchildren. Of his five siblings he is survived by two sisters, Virginia Howell Beckstead and Betty Jean (Jack) Crossley. He was preceded in death by his wife, one son, one grandchild and one great grandchild and his sisters Mable Hilton, Maureen Murphy, and brother Marshall McEntire.

Funeral service will be held April 20, 2002 in the Ensign 4th Ward building. Burial will be at the Salt Lake City Cemetery. Funeral directors are Russon Brothers Mortuary.