A life of service
Beloved father, grandfather, brother and friend, Loyd A. Hewitt passed away on September. 27, 2014. He was born on October 5, 1924 in Ogden, Utah, grew up in St George, Utah and lived many years in Sandy, Utah.
Loyd served as an officer in the Army Air Corps during WWII in the pacific theater. He was a Radio and Radar Operator on a B-29 flying out of Guam. One particular flight he mentions was that of a weather study over Japan when he saw a very bright light and red plume over Nagasaki Japan. After his service, he used his GI bill to study geo-physics at the University of Utah. He spent many years traipsing across North America surveying for mineral deposits.
After working for mining companies such as Twin Peaks Mining, American Smelting and Refining, and Newmont Mining, Loyd founded his own company, Hewitt Enterprises and began surveying the country for minerals using a new technology which he was pioneering. He became known as the man with the magic black box. He performed geophysical surveys all over North America. He hired many family members and friends and children of friends helping many along the way. After many years, there was a down turn in mining industry in the United States so he decided it was time to retire (sort of).
In his semi-retirement, he decided to start a new company, Swiss of America allowing access to gold and silver for the masses. With this new company, he continued helping others by hiring those that could use the work. He was able to do something he always wanted to do at Swiss of America. He acquired a soda pop machine where he could open it up and give people soda pop for free. Swiss of America was housed in an old Poultry Processing plant that was previously owned by Philo T. Farnsworth, the inventor of the Television. Swiss of America refined silver, gold and platinum and minted silver and gold medallions. For a while, the company assembled first aid kits for people's preparedness.
He is survived by his brothers Don (Doreen) Hewitt and Van Gary (Rena) Hewitt, Sons Larry A. (Sherren) Hewitt, Ardin B. (Marilyn) Hewitt and Brian L. (Lucinda) Hewitt, 13 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren and his long time lady friend Jean Christensen. He was preceded in death by his eternal companion Ardis (Butt) Hewitt, His parents Don Wesley Hewitt and Elva (Prisbrey) Hewitt, brother Edward Max Hewitt and sister Norma (Hewitt) Coombs.
A celebration of his life of service will be held at the LDS Chapel at 1050 E 10600 S Sandy Utah Friday October 3, 2014 at 1:00 PM. A viewing will be held at 12:00 preceding the funeral. Another viewing will be held between 6:00PM and 8:00 PM on Thursday preceding the funeral at the Larkin Sunset Gardens at 1950 East Dimple Dell Road (10600 South) Sandy Utah.
