Rhea Irene Gehring Worthen, age 96, passed away April 17, 2015 in Salt Lake City. Rhea was born August 22, 1918 in Park City, the sixth child born to Anna Helena Clara Gehrke and Archibald Cyrus Gehring. Rhea graduated from South High School, and went to work at Keith O'Brien department store. She worked at TransWest Credit Union until she retired. She married her high school sweetheart Thomas M. Worthen, Sr. on August 21, 1938. Their 68-year marriage was later solemnized in the LDS Temple. She was active in the Junior Old Timer Club and the Credit Union League. She was an avid gardener whose plants found homes in many friends', family members\ and neighbors' yards. She loved to can preserves and taught her children and grandchildren to do the same. She enjoyed cards and taught all of her family how to play. Saturday night was date night at the Moose Club where mom and dad loved to dance. She could out-drive the guys when they played golf and she made the best pickled beets.
She loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and each received a special crocheted afghan she made especially for them in the last years of her life. She is survived by her three children: sons, Thomas M. (Lois) Worthen Jr., Dr. Bruce M. (Pam) Worthen; daughter, Patricia (Bob) Mietchen; nine grandchildren; Scott (Lisa), Jackie, Blake, Missy, Jessica (Joseph), Britton (Lindsey), Anna (Greg), Megan, Whitney (John); and 26 great-grandchildren, David, Daniel, Abby, Seth, Alex, Colin, Samuel, Aubrey, Clara Jane, Chloe, Ryan, Avery, Elijah, Grace, Benton, Eve, Shawn, Max, Henry, Jack, Lilly, Esther, Preston, Isaac, Beatrice and Edwin. She is preceded in death by her dear husband Tom. Funeral services will be held Monday, April 20th at 12:00 noon in the Larkin Mortuary Chapel, 260 E. South Temple, where friends may call Sunday, April 19th from 6:00 ‚ 8:00 p.m. and Monday, April 20th one hour prior to the service. Interment Salt Lake City Cemetery.
The family would like to thank the staff at the Residence of CareSource for the loving care they provided.
