Juanita Alice Waldron

1926 ~ 2021

Obituary Photo for Juanita Alice Waldron < >

Service:

Jan. 29, 2021
1:00 PM
Larkin Sunset Lawn Cemetery, 2350 E. 1300 S. Salt Lake City, Utah

Dear mother, grandmother and great-grandmother Juanita (Nita) Alice Schroeder Waldron passed away at the age of 94 on January 26, 2021, in American Fork, Utah, after an amazing life filled with family and friends and her passions, music, cooking and orchids.

Nita was born to Arthur Carl and Lottie Agnes Schroeder on December 18, 1926, in Los Angeles, California. She began her musical career as a young child, with her mother taking her on the Red Line trolley to weekly piano lessons at the University of Southern California. She began giving her friends piano lessons when she was in high school, charging them $1 per lesson.

At the age of 18, Nita met Charles (Chuck) Waldron, a Navy sailor who was on leave from World War II, at a dance at the Hollywood Palladium. They had a brief courtship and got married on April 11, 1946. On August 12, 1951, Nita’s son and light of her life, Robert (Bob) Dana Waldron, was born.

Nita and her family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1957, after her husband took a job transfer. There, she continued to build her talent, studying music at the University of Utah. Nita also took lessons from renowned former Tabernacle organists Frank W. Asper and Alexander Schreiner. She continued teaching music, something she excelled at and loved very much. She gave lessons in piano, organ, and later, harp.

It was a dream of Nita’s to own her own music store, and in 1978, along with her good friend and business partner, Scott Gillespie, she purchased Valley Organ on 7th East and 21st South. Nita loved running the store and teaching lessons there for many years. Besides teaching and playing music, Nita also loved listening to music at the Organ Loft in Salt Lake City.

Nita was a talented homemaker who loved cooking, baking and caring for her orchids. She spent many hours perfecting recipes in her kitchen—including her signature rum cake, which she loved baking for her family, friends and music students. Nita was a member of the Utah Orchid Society, and she raised many, many orchids, treating them like her children.

Our family has many happy memories of Nita that include listening to her play the organ and harp, going to her house for big family dinners and hearing her wonderful life stories. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren have fun memories of Grandma Nita giving them piano, organ and harp lessons. We will also never forget her great personality and sense of humor—with lots of sass to go with it!

Nita was preceded in death by her husband Charles Howard Waldron; parents Arthur Carl and Lottie Agnes Schroeder; and siblings Helen B. Schroeder, Frank Eddy Bresler and Dolores Alena Bresler.

Nita is survived by her son Robert Dana Waldron, his wife Terrie Diane Waldron, five grandchildren and their spouses, and soon-to-be a dozen great-grandchildren.

Nita will be laid to rest in Larkin Sunset Lawn Cemetery. Due to the Covid-19 situation, only an intimate private service will be held. In honor of Nita, donations can be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children – Salt Lake City.