OBITUARY: Sylvan Wittwer

Sylvan Wittwer

Sylvan Harold Wittwer, age 95, passed away peacefully at his home Friday, January 20, 2012 in Washington, Utah. He was born January 17, 1917 in Hurricane, Utah to Joseph and Mary Ellen Stucki Wittwer. On July 27, 1938 he married Maurine Cottle in the Logan Utah Temple. Following Maurine’s passing in 2008, he married Ruth Schumann Hinton in the St. George Utah Temple. She was his devoted, faithful and stalwart companion for the remainder of his life.

After growing up in Hurricane, Sylvan went to college in Logan, Utah and during his freshman year met an attractive high school senior that led to a courtship lasting for more than 70 years. Sylvan and Maurine both received bachelor degrees from Utah State University. Sylvan received his doctorate in horticulture from the University of Missouri-Columbia. In 1946 they moved to East Lansing, Michigan. While at Michigan State University he became a Professor of Horticulture, Associate Dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station. Sylvan and Maurine spent two years in Belize on assignment from USAID and traveled the world in connection with his professional duties. After 50 years in Michigan, they moved to Logandale, Nevada, where their home garden was the showplace of the valley. After Maurine’s passing, he and Ruth established their home in Washington, Utah.

Sylvan was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was a pioneering church leader in Missouri and Michigan, touching many lives as a branch president, bishop, stake president; a patriarch in Michigan, Belize, and Nevada; and a sealer in the Chicago and Las Vegas temples. His professional honors and achievements include two honorary doctorates, election to the Horticulture Hall of Fame by the American Society for Horticultural Science, over 750 peer-reviewed scientific journal articles, and several books, including Feeding a Billion: Frontiers of Chinese Agriculture. He was an untiring spokesman for the promise of agricultural technology to eliminate world hunger, and made numerous trips to every continent except Antarctica as an invited speaker and advisor. He will be remembered for his enthusiasm for hard work, gardening, exercise, and healthy eating; his excellence in public speaking; and his unfailing devotion to God and family.

Survivors include his wife, Ruth; two sons and two daughters: LaRee (Reed) Farrar of Cypress, TX; Alice (Mack) Sowards of Marietta, GA; Arthur (Mary Sue) of Ellisville, MO; Carl (Noriko) of Salt Lake City, UT; 17 grandchildren; and 33 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Maurine, one daughter, Kathleen, and two grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 2:00 PM at the Washington 4th Ward Chapel, 82 North Main St. Visitation will be Friday, January 27, 2012 from 6 – 8 PM at the same location and again from 12:00 – 1:30 PM prior to services. Interment will follow the services at the Hurricane City Cemetery under the direction of Metcalf Mortuary, (435) 673-4221.