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In Memory

Keith Wallentine - Class of 1946

Beloved husband, father and grandfather, Keith J. Wallentine passed away unexpectedly on Monday, May 12, 2014. Keith Wallentine, the son of Stanton and Irene Wallentine, was born in Dingle, Idaho, on May 27, 1928.

Joining the military out of high school, Keith was a petty officer in the U.S. Navy, working as a meteorologist. Keith also served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve as an information services officer, comptroller and commissioned officer.
 
An accomplished news writer, Keith earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, with an emphasis in anthropology and journalism from the University of Utah. While at the university, Keith was a member and a commanding officer of the National Society of Scabbard and Blade. On December 21, 1951, Keith married the love of his life, Kathleen Patricia Sullivan. In 1952, Keith joined United Press International (UPI) as a staff writer, later acting as Bureau Chief and Regional Manager in Salt Lake City. Leaving UPI for a position as Director of Public Relations with Utah-Idaho Sugar Company (U&I) in 1963, Keith began a successful career that led him to become Vice President and Corporate Secretary of U&I. Keith had bottom line responsibility for an operating division encompassing four manufacturing plants, more than 3,000 employees and sales of $200 million. When U&I built new headquarters on South Temple, Keith spearheaded the award-winning design and construction project. Along with his executive duties, Keith pursued a lifetime interest in volunteer service through public relations programs of United Way agencies like the Utah Heart Association and Utah Lung Association. Keith was a longtime member of the Public Relations Society of America and past-president of the Intermountain Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi. Ever a man of the mountains, Keith had an avid interest in hiking, skiing and backpacking and was a member of the Wasatch Mountain Club for many years. His love of the Intermountain West and nature was reflected in his wildflower photography and later, in his oil painting. Keith felt privileged he had been able to visit the villages in Denmark and Switzerland where his parent's pioneer ancestors had originally resided.
 
Keith is survived by Kathleen, his wife of 62-years and their four children, Elise, Julie, Craig and Cynthia Wallentine. Grandpa Keith will be deeply missed by his four grandchildren, Kevin Stanton Wallentine and Anne Kathleen Wallentine, Samuel Patrick Austin and Henry Fintan Austin. As Keith might say "Onward and upward."

Services will be held at 1:30 PM on Saturday, May 17, 2014 at Neil O'Donnell and Sons Mortuary, 372 E 100 S, Salt Lake City, where friends may call from 12:30 -1:30. In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made in memory of Keith to the Alzheimer's Association , Utah Chapter, 855 East 4800 South, Suite 100, SLC, UT 84107 or the American Heart Association.

Published in Deseret News from May 16 to May 17, 2014