Vernal Henry Gledhill passed away on Tuesday, April 27, 2021, just 30 days before his 100th birthday. He was born on May 27th, 1921, in Goshen, Idaho, to Joseph Valentine Gledhill and Emily Florella Dodson Gledhill as the youngest of 9 children. He was preceded in death by his first wife of nearly 62 years, Cleo Mae Smith Gledhill, with whom he had 4 children: David S. Gledhill, Kenneth V. Gledhill, Randel Jon Gledhill (deceased), and Shauna L. Gledhill Layton. He had 17 grandchildren, 58 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. After the death of Cleo, Vernal married Toni Turner Gledhill who survives him along with her 3 daughters and her 5 grandchildren who he loved as his own.
Vernal was a United States Navy Veteran having served in WWII. He graduated from Brigham Young University and received a PhD from North Carolina State University. The family lived in Las Cruces, New Mexico while he worked at New Mexico State University in the soil’s lab, as a statistics professor, and ultimately as Assistant Dean of the College of Agriculture there. He retired and moved to Mesa, Arizona, where he opened an art and framing shop, worked in a family-owned plant nursery, and served in the Mesa Arizona Temple for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Vernal is remembered by family and friends as a well-educated and hard-working man with an endearing sense of humor, a dedication to God, family, and country, and a kind disposition.
A viewing will be held on Friday, May 7th, 2021 from 11:00am to 12noon at the Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery located at 7900 E Main St, Mesa, AZ. A gravesite ceremony with military honors will immediately follow. A memorial service to honor Vernal will be held on Saturday, May 29th, 2021, beginning at 11:00am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints church building located at 532 S Greenfield Rd, Mesa, AZ 85206. Donations to the LDS Temple Construction Fund requested in lieu of flowers. Both events will be filmed and broadcast—contact family for links.