On June 17, 2023, our beloved husband and father, David Bitner Wirthlin, 87, passed away doing what he loved -- playing tennis. Vibrant and engaged and physically active until the last moment, he leaves a legacy of unbounded joy of living life to its fullest.
David was born on September 19, 1935, in Salt Lake City to Joseph L. Wirthlin and Madeline Bitner Wirthlin. He was the youngest of five children. When David was 12, his parents moved from the big city to a 100-acre farm on 5300 South in Murray. It was there that David learned valuable skills of leadership and drive, of hard work and perseverance that benefitted him throughout his life. He graduated from Murray High School where he was a track star and the student body president. During his tenure as student body president, he left an enduring legacy by changing the school’s mascot from the Smelterites to the Spartans, a change generations of students have cheered. He began his education at the University of Utah before his call to serve as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in Switzerland and Austria where he gained a love for the people and a deep commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ. After his mission, he completed his B.S. in Business Administration at the University of Utah and received his Master’s degree in Hospital Administration at the University of Minnesota. It was during these years that he made many lifelong friends with whom he stayed close throughout his life.
There was no greater blessing in David’s life than his sweetheart, Anne Goalen. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on April 25th 62 years ago. The depth of their love and the strength of their partnership was felt by their six children and all who knew them. They were truly one in love and purpose.
David lived a remarkably full life. He found the greatest satisfaction in his professional career in Hospital Administration. He served as Administrator of LDS Hospital, a rewarding work that blessed him with life-long associations. In this capacity, he brought innovative and valuable services to the communities LDS Hospital served such as the Life Flight helicopter service for trauma care throughout Utah and parts of Idaho and Wyoming. With the formation of Intermountain Health Care, David was appointed Regional Vice President for the southern region of hospitals in the urban and rural settings. Following service as a Mission President, David returned to Intermountain Health Care and served as the Executive Director of Fund Development where he oversaw the performance of 14 hospital foundations supporting the Intermountain Health Care system.
David was a faithful and devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He loved opportunities to serve in many capacities. He was blessed to serve as a bishop and as a stake president. He served as mission president in the Frankfurt Germany Mission and mission president of the Provo Missionary Training Center. David had a special love for temple service. He served in the Presidency of the Salt Lake Temple and as President of the Nauvoo Temple, a seminal experience in his life. These provided rich and rewarding opportunities for David and Anne to serve together deepening their love and commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ. To each calling, he brought his great faith and love for those he served and his natural ability to counsel, mentor, and advise.
Throughout his life, David found joy in service to others. He liked to get down in the trenches where he could make a difference. This desire provided service opportunities in the community. He served as the Board Chair for Habitat for Humanity, a board member for Utah Youth Village, the National President for the Sons of Utah Pioneers, a board member for the University of Utah Alumni Association, board member of More Good Foundation, and most recently, a member of the Salt Lake City Library board.
Above all, David loved his family. There was no greater joy than having his family all together. Home was a gathering place where family bonds were solidified around good food, laughter, and lively conversations. The hallmark of each year was the family trip to Wolf Creek for boating, waterskiing, jet skiing, and lots of time talking with kids and grandkids on the beach. David was an avid University of Utah Football fan and held season tickets for nearly 50 years. His great joy was to have Anne or one of his children with him cheering for the Running Utes.
David’s exemplary life will be a constant guiding light in the lives of his children. By his loving and wise counsel, he instilled in them important virtues of faith and confidence to help them meet the challenges of life.
David is survived by his wife, Anne, their six children and their spouses: Kim, Jennifer (Royal), David (Laura), Deborah (Cameron), John (Suzanne), Marianne (Steve), 23 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, his sister-in-law, Pat Lake, and brother and sister-in-law Steve and Jeannie Goalen.
We express deep gratitude to the University of Utah Neuro-Critical Care team for their kind, professional, and compassionate care of our dad and dear husband.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, June 29, 2023 at the Monument Park Stake Center, 1320 Wasatch Drive, Salt Lake City, UT. There will be a visitation on Wednesday from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Larkin Sunset Lawn Mortuary, 2350 East 1300 South, Salt Lake City, UT and on Thursday from 9:30 to 10:30 am prior to services at the church. For those unable to attend, services will be streamed via Zoom. Please click on the watch services link above. You must be signed in to your Zoom account to view.
We express our deepest sympathy for your loss. He was a wonderful man and with his sweetheart they were a sweet couple and together accomplished many milestones in their lives. We grew to love and appreciate these dear friends when we served with them in the Nauvoo Temple. We will forever cherish our time there and are so grateful for the leadership of President and Sister Wirthlin. We love you and our hearts go out to you Anne and your family. Sweet is the peace the Gospel brings knowing that life goes on and that you will be a family forever. Loves and hugs!!
Dearest Ann, I love you with all my heart, and at this tender time I send my gratitude for David and you. Your examples of charity and service have truly blessed my life. It was a privilege to learn from you, as we served together in the Salt Lake Temple.. I am sending you my prayers from the South Africa, Missionary Training Center. Blessings to you and your beautiful eternal family. JoAnn Pendleton 💝🌟💖
I have had many mentors in my life, mostly older and wiser. President Wirthlin, though a year younger than me, was on the top of the pedestal of men who have influenced my life for good. David, together with his sweetheart Anne, are spiritual giants in my and my sweet Ramona's lives. It was a great honor to have served with them in the Nauvoo Temple. My heartfelt love and tenderest sympathy to Anne and the family.
Dennis Dalling
David was my senior companion in Vienna, Austria in 1958. I have loved and admired him ever since. He was a devoted, faithful missionary and mission leader then and became a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ for the rest of his life. I have been blessed to have known him throughout my life.
We are genuinely sorry for your loss. We understand how much your Dad meant to you and your family and how much he will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Dear Ann and Family,
We were shocked and saddened at our beloved David's sudden passing, but we are relieved that he was not required to suffer for an extended length of time as so many of our friends have been required to bear with their afflictions for months and years before they eventually return to their heavenly home.
We are grateful for our association with you and David during your mission in Germany and also following your faithful service in the Nauvoo Temple. You and your entire family have been beacons of eternal light to all those around. We pray the promised peace will abide with all of you at this tender time.
Spence and Dorothea Condie
We remember many happy times while President and Sister Wurthlin served in Nauvoo Temple. Please be at peace with all the memories he made for so many.
Sister Wirthlin,
Our lives will be forever blessed because we had the opportunity to come to know you and President Wirthlin in Nauvoo. We love and appreciate your kindness and helpfulness as we tried so hard to find acceptance for the Nauvoo Pageant. You blessed us with the office we needed and the kindness that gave us hope. You helped forward the work that needed to be done in that area. Our heartfelt thanks and love for both you and President Wirthlin will always remain in our hearts. You spread love wherever you were call upon to serve and we consider ourselves blessed to even know you both. Sending our LOVE to you!
John and Peggy Ricks
Dear Sweet Anne: My heart was broken to learn of the sudden passing of your Beloved Eternal Sweetheart David. It was so wonderful seeing you together at Olympus so recently, looking so happy! You still look just exactly like the Angel Anne that I knew 68 years ago! I am sending my love and deepest sympathy and praying that our Heavenly Father will hold you and your precious family in the Arms of His Love until you are reunited again for all Eternity! With all my love and admiration, Ruth White Egan. ❌⭕️♥️🙏🏻
Dear Anne and family,
My heart aches for you during this very tender time. I feel so fortunate to have seen David at our Nauvoo reunion. As always, he reached out with kind words of love and encouragement. He will be missed tremendously, but he will be remembered with love and my grateful heart for all he exemplified during our time together in the Nauvoo temple.
With all my love,
Lindy
Indeed a privilege to have known Brother Wirthlin. Always very kind to me. With a sense of kinship as we reviewed our families ties even seventy years ago as my parents and his knew each other.
I will cherish his memory.
Dearest Ann and family, Robin let us know of the passing of Pres. Wirthlin. We wanted to let you know that we are so sad to hear. Pres. and you were always wonderful to us while we were there in Frankfurt. We have so many precious memories of the time we spent there and having the privilege of getting to know you and Pres. Wirthlin. You are always in our hearts, and our prayers, especially at this time. Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you. We love you💋
We were so sorry to have missed David's funeral. We were also dealing with a death in our family at the same time. Since reading his obituary, I have been pondering what a glorious reunion he would be having with my Dad, L. Brent Goates, who spent many happy years at LDS Hospital with David. Our family sends our love to all the Wirthlin clan. What a joy it was in recent years to bump into him on occasion when we served as ordinance workers in the Salt Lake Temple.
Dear Anne and family:
You may not remember me but my father, Jesse R. Curtis, was David's mission president in the Swiss Austrian mission and I was a teenager with them during the time they served and lived in Basel, Switzerland.
I recall what a faithful and great missionary he was.
I was saddened to hear of his passing and send my deepest sympathy to you and your family.
Sincerely, Susan Curtis Porter
I first met Bishop David Wirthlin when stopping by the home as a student at Highland High School with friends, as David gave a father’s blessing to his son (my classmate) Dave. Later, Bishop Wirthlin became my Stake President as I was completing medical school at the U (he and Ann did a fabulous job!). Later still, I lived in the Nauvoo Temple District during the time President and Sister Wirthlin served as President and Matron of that special temple. They touched so many lives of people like me—among the crowds .they served in various callings. I loved being able to watch the funeral via zoom. I am confident your Dad is very proud of all of you, loves you dearly (and that love will only grow during the temporary separation period ahead). Thank you for your service and example, Sister Wirthlin and family. May the Lord watch over you all until your joyful reunion with David! ❤️🙏🏻 Mike
Thank you for the great example of living as a Latter-day Saint.