DR. SHERMAN L. CLOWARD, CLASS OF 1966
Dr. Sherman Livingston Cloward, devoted son, husband, father, brother, and friend, passed away peacefully on July 18, 2018. He was 78.
Dr. Cloward was born on Feb. 15, 1940 to Wells P. and Myrle Cloward in Payson, Utah. He attended Peteetneet, Timpanogos and Page elementary schools. He earned his Eagle Scout and Order of the Arrow in the Boy Scouts of America and helped all three of his sons earn theirs, too. At Brigham Young High School, he was a three-year football letterman and co-captain his senior year, two-year basketball letterman (starting center his senior year), Letterman’s Club vice president, sophomore class vice president, junior class vice president, Key Club president, district lieutenant governor, and a speaker at graduation in 1958.
Dr. Cloward attended Brigham Young University from 1958 to 1960, then served a mission in the Western States Mission (Billings, Mont.) from March 1960 to March 1962. With the help of his parents and mission president, he was accepted to the School of Dentistry while still serving his mission. This allowed him to start school in the fall immediately after his mission.
After completing his freshman year of dental school, Dr. Cloward returned home for the summer and met the love of his life, Sheryle Allred. After a whirlwind two-week courtship, they were engaged. He left for fall semester at school and returned to marry Sheryle during winter break. They married on Dec. 20, 1963 in the Salt Lake Temple, then moved to Seattle, where they started their family.
Upon Dr. Cloward’s graduation in 1966, the young family moved to Victorville, Calif., where he served in the U.S. Air Force as a dentist. After being honorably released after two years of service, he and his family moved back to Provo to start his dental practice.
Dr. Cloward had a high standard of excellence at work. His patients and employees meant so much to him throughout his professional career and beyond. He always believed in completing many more hours of continuing education than required to be at the forefront of his profession. He even became a Fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry. Many patients who have moved away have reported that their new dentist described his work as excellent. He knew how to work hard and play hard, always carving out time to vacation with his family, children, grandkids, and friends. Next to being a caretaker for Sheryle, traveling was his favorite hobby.
Dr. Cloward believed in community and church service. He served as president of the Provo District Dental Society, president of the Utah Academy of General Dentistry, campaign chair of The United Way of Utah County, campaign chair for the Boy Scouts of America, president of the Provo Kiwanis Club, president of the Cougar Club, and president of the Squaw Peak Chapter of the Utah Sons of Pioneers. During his membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served as Oak Hills Fifth ward Priest Quorum Advisor, BYU Second Ward Bishop, BYU Ninth Stake High Councilor, Second Counselor in the BYU 13th Stake Presidency, Oak Hills Stake High Councilor, First Counselor in the Bishopric of the Oak Hills Fifth Ward, and Edgemont Stake High Councilor. In 2002 the Clowards served an LDS mission together for 12 months at the Los Angeles Temple Visitors Center.
For the last 15 years of his life, Dr. Cloward was a devoted caretaker for his sweetheart, Sheryle, until his own health no longer allowed this. He loved her and his posterity fiercely and always went to great lengths to host parties so his family spent time together often. His family will be forever grateful for his efforts in building family relationships, and for his strong testimony of Jesus Christ and his Father in Heaven.
Dr. Cloward is survived by his wife, Sheryle; children Kim (Russ) Tolley, Steve (Ann), Kristie (Tim) Kapp, Scott (Miriam), Kevin (Kristi), and Shannon (Jason) Salmon; 27 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and sisters Connie (Bob) Parsons and Kelly Petitt.
DR. LEONARD E. NIXON, DDS CLASS OF 1966
Dr. Leonard Edward “Leo” Nixon of Montesano, Wash., passed away on Sept. 7, 2021 at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, Wash. He was 86.
He was born on April 10, 1935 in Aberdeen, Wash., to Joseph and Marguerite (Eddy) Nixon. He graduated from Weatherwax High School in 1953 and went to Grays Harbor College. While at the School of Dentistry, he received the American Academy of Gold Foil Operators Achievement Award. In 1966, he started Broadway Dental Center in Montesano and was in practice for 32 years.
Dr. Nixon was a member of the Grays Harbor Dental Society, Montesano School Board, Aberdeen Elks #593 (53 years, trustee, Officer of the Year 2017-18, and Ladies of the Elks Most Inspirational Award winner 2020-21), Olympia Mountaineers, and Montesano Lions Club. He built four street rods and a cedar strip boat and enjoyed snow skiing, hiking, motorcycle riding, and rock, ice, and mountain climbing.
Dr. Nixon is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Louise; and daughter Karen (Brian) Birindelli.
He was preceded in death by his son, Joe; sister Florence; and brother Robert. (The Daily World)
DR. JAMES F. McCALLUM, CLASS OF 1966
Dr. James F. McCallum died in April 2015 after a battle with colon cancer.
After serving in the U.S. Air Force in Europe, Dr. McCallum moved to Bellingham, Wash., and purchased the practice of a retiring dentist. He was a member of more than 40 years in the R.L. Bruna Dental Study Club and spent many years as a part-time clinical instructor at the UW. He was also an ardent Husky fan, proving his devotion by actually traveling to Eugene for road games with the Ducks.
Dr. McCallum is survived by his wife, Sue, and son, Mike.
DR. RONALD RIEHL, CLASS OF 1966
Dr. Ronald Riehl passed away on Oct. 6, 2008 at Memorial Hospital, surrounded by his family. He waged a seven-year battle with prostate cancer, and ultimately succumbed to acute myeloid leukemia. He was 71.
Dr. Riehl was born at home on Oct. 14, 1936 as the fifth child of John and Beatrice (Cowart) Riehl. He was raised in Russian Town – a part of Walla Walla, Wash., and attended Walla Walla High School and graduated in 1953. A year later he joined the US Navy, serving two years as a navigator in an F3D jet in the Continental Air Defense command based in San Diego, Calif. He then attended Eastern Washington College, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in biology. While attending the UW School of Dentistry, he met Helen Clark. They were married in 1963 and last year celebrated their 45th anniversary.
Upon his graduation from the School of Dentistry in 1966, the couple relocated to Wapato, Wash., where Dr. Riehl practiced dentistry with Dr. Ed Nelson. With the help of Jerry Johnson and Burkhart Dental Supply, Dr. Riehl designed and built the first dental delivery unit allowing the patient to recline and the dentist to work seated. The patient was more comfortable and the spittoon became a relic. He was truly a pioneer in the transition from stand-up to sit-down dentistry. In 1967, he relocated his dental practice to Yakima. In 1993, his son, Dr. Doran Riehl, joined his practice, and they worked together until his retirement in 2006.
Consistent with his pioneering spirit, Dr. Riehl was an early proponent of preventing dental disease and served as campaign chairman for the first attempt to fluoridate the water in the Yakima Valley. Despite the failure of this campaign, he continued as a proponent and was passionately involved in the successful bid for water fluoridation in 2002. True to his commitment to preventive dentistry, he encouraged the development of the YVCC Dental Hygiene School and instructed hygiene students at the beginning and the end of his career. He served as president of the Yakima Valley Dental Society and on several other boards.
Survivors include his wife, Helen Riehl (Clark); daughter Cindy (David) Hargreaves; son Doran (Mary) Riehl; granddaughters Carly Riehl, Haley Hargreaves, Katie Hargreaves, and Elena Riehl; sisters Doris (Chuck) Randall and Lucy (Roger) Duchemin; brother Leonard (Grace) Riehl; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his oldest brother, Joseph Doran Riehl, first wife, Alice (Bergevin) Riehl, and parents, John and Beatrice Riehl.
DR. PAUL K. SMITS, DDS CLASS OF 1966
Dr. Paul Kari Smits of Bellevue, Wash., passed away on Sept. 10, 2021 in Seattle from complications of prostate cancer. He fought the disease courageously for 10 years.
He was born in 1941 to Ina Kari and Paul Aire Smits, DDS, and grew up in Aberdeen, Wash. He attended the UW. He served in the U.S. Army at Fort Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, for two years and, while there, met his future wife, Joyce Becker. He then served two years in the Army Reserve while establishing his private dental practice in West Seattle. He cared for his patients for over 45 years, and became friends with many of them.
Dr. Smits loved spending time outdoors with his family, especially on the ski slopes. An avid photographer, he documented everything from their travels in the United States and around the world to his grandchildren’s sporting events and celebrations. He was quick to laugh and tell a story, and will be remembered for his warm, friendly personality and dedication to his family and patients.
He is survived by his wife of over 50 years, Joyce; sons Tyler, Ryan, and Kyle, and their wives, Lori, Christina, and Jessica; grandchildren Gavin, Audrey, Ella, and Lily; sister Karen (Morgan Kari) of Woodland Hills, Calif.; brother and sister-in-law René and Jan Robert of San Ramon, Calif., and their family; and many friends. (Seattle Times)
DR. WESLEY H. WILCOX, CLASS OF 1966
Dr. Wesley Harold Wilcox died peacefully in the presence of his family on Jan. 2, 2021. He was 81.
He was born on Oct. 20, 1939 to Harold and Thelma (Walker) Wilcox. He grew up on the family farm in Syracuse with his brother, Blair, sisters Marilyn and Kristie, and many special dogs. He learned his hard work ethic there, which he applied his entire life. He graduated from Davis High School and Weber College. He served a church mission to the Northwestern states and, upon arriving home, continued his courtship with Renee Kearl. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on March 1, 1962.
Dr. Wilcox practiced in Layton, Utah, for 50 years before retiring and selling his practice. He then spent six years as a professor at Roseman Dental School in South Jordan, Utah. He was an active member of the Layton Rotary Club. Through the years he enjoyed fishing, gardening, snowmobiling, games, puzzles, and basketball. He was an avid BYU and Jazz fan. His last calling as ward organist brought him much enjoyment.
Dr. Wilcox is survived by his wife, Renee; children Darren (Tami), Cheryl (Blake) Chandler, Janice (Wes) Johnson, Douglas (Laurie), and Bryce (Staci); 21 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren; and his sister Kristie. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Blair, and his sister Marilyn.