Willard Earl Shingleton Jr. 1934 ~ 2008 Willard Earl Shingleton Jr. slipped peacefully away from a pain-filled fight with cancer, into the loving arms of his parents on February 7, 2008. Will was born September 4, 1934 in Salt Lake City LDS Hospital to Willard Earl Shingleton Sr. and Alice Mary Brown Shingleton. His siblings are Dennis Shingleton, Renae Johnson and Carolyn Richardson. He attended school at Onequa Elementary School, Jackson Junior High School, and West High School. He was the youngest member of the Utah Symphony at age 15 where he played six seasons before he received his mission call to the Samoan Islands, at which time he was assigned to the Figi islands in 1954. Elder Wayne Markam was one of his dear companions. After three years on his mission he came home and shortly thereafter married Sheila Brighouse. Together they had three children, Tiare (Ko) Piula of St. George, UT; Mel (Bethany) Shingleton of Sandy, UT; and Charmaine (Gene) Hansen of Cedar City, UT. They later divorced and he married Dephina Gallardo and together they had one son, Jared Shingleton, Salt Lake City. They were later also divorced. He leaves behind eleven beautiful grandchildren, Mel, Joe, Noelani, Rob, Charmaine, Tiare, K.J., Little Noelani, Ian, Addison and Kiara. Will loved the gospel. He often talked about his love for the Polynesian people which he taught in the islands on his LDS mission. He also had a great love for music and loved to play the drums with his friends in the band. Those were his greatest joys. He also enjoyed his children and his grandchildren. He always talked about the memories that were made with his family at his home in Santa Clara, Utah where they would gather at the pool in his backyard and have lots of fun. Will took care of his mother, Alice for five years before she passed away and he loved that time with her. He talked about that time and how valuable it was to him. Will expressed his great love for his long-time friend Gene Yamagata, who has given both Will and his family great support and love throughout the years. Will was preceded in death by his parents; and his brother, Ronald. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 11 a.m. in the Union Fort 3rd Ward, 6710 South 1300 East, Cottonwood Heights.
Published in the Deseret News on 2/10/2008.