Weldon Kitchen

Weldon Kitchen's Obituary
August 15, 1934 -September 19, 2022

Weldon J Kitchen, beloved husband, father, grandfather, missionary, and friend, passed away September 19, 2022, at his home in Highland, UT, of esophageal cancer. He was 88 years old. He was born on August 15, 1934, at home, in Tridell, Utah. He was the last of eleven children of Joseph Levi Kitchen and Blanche Cook Kitchen. His growing up years were of pioneer circumstances, working on a farm with limited resources. He grew up using an outhouse and in a home without electricity.

Weldon attended a in a small four room elementary school in Tridell. He attended three years of schooling at Alterra High School. He graduated from American Fork High School, where he later ended up teaching for 36 years. Weldon continued his education at Brigham Young University for 3 years in industrial education, before being called on a three-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the newly formed Southern Far East Mission.

Weldon was one of the first fourteen missionaries to serve in Hong Kong. After eight months, he and three other missionaries were transferred to open up missionary work on the beautiful island of Formosa (Taiwan). After arriving in Taiwan on June 4, 1956, he spent the next two and one half years establishing the church there. He had wonderful experiences with the Chinese people living there.

After completing his mission, Weldon returned to BYU, graduating in industrial education. He taught at Uintah High School in Vernal, Bonneville High School in Ogden, and American Fork High School in American Fork. He taught industrial education, drafting, special education, and Mandarin Chinese. He taught a total of 44 years, exactly half of his life.

A year after returning from his mission, Weldon married Miriam Day in the Salt Lake Temple. They had seven children together. They were divorced 37 years later. Weldon's happiest memories of his children's childhoods were the times they climbed Mount Timpanogos together and the times they went camping and fishing in the mountains.

In 2000, he married Donna Rae Pond in the Mount Timpanogos Temple. They have spent 22 wonderful years together. They have served the Lord in the Chinese Ward, on missions, and in the temple. They have enjoyed traveling throughout the world. They have had wonderful times with children and grandchildren with parties and activities. One of the favorite times of the year is when the children pick one of Grandpa's pumpkins and carve it in our annual pumpkin party.

Weldon's hobbies included gardening. He was famous for his cantaloupes and apple juice. He grew much more than he and Donna needed in order to give it to others. Last year he and Donna gave a cantaloupe to every family in the neighborhood. That was approximately 110 cantaloupes.

Weldon loved to study Chinese. When he taught Chinese at Bountiful High School, he was sent to extra training on the language. This prepared him for greater service with the Chinese people later in life. He loved to answer the telephone in Chinese and go up and down the street singing in Chinese. Weldon served as the high councilor for the BYU Chinese Ward for a total of 7 years. Donna served with him, and their love for Chinese people became even greater.

Upon Weldon's retirement, he and Donna served as senior missionaries in the Vancouver Canada Mission, where they were assigned to work with the Chinese people. They later served as temple missionaries in the Taipei Taiwan Temple. In Taiwan, Weldon was asked to speak at church meetings all around the island and tell of his experiences as one of the first missionaries. His testimony touched thousands of lives

Weldon loved serving in the temple. He and Donna were ordinance workers in the Mount Timpanogos Temple for approximately 15 years. They loved missionary work and were always looking for opportunities to share the gospel.

Weldon is survived by his loving wife, Donna, and his children which include Brent Kitchen (Joycelle), Douglas Kitchen (Yuliana), Kevin Thompson (aka Norman Kitchen), Lisa Kitchen, Paul Kitchen (Jodi), Jeffrey Kitchen, and Rebecka McNeil. He is also survived by Donna's children which include Melanie Scott (Ken), James Mayfield (Megan), David Mayfield (Amy), Nathan Mayfield (Megan), and Tom Mayfield (Anmy). Weldon and Donna have been blessed with 42 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.

Weldon is proceeded in death by his parents and all of his siblings: Lazelle Glines, Virginia Goodrich, John Kitchen, Frances Bartlett, Belva Chamberlain, Norman Kitchen, and Maxine Benedict, Melvin Kitchen, Ralph Lenford Kitchen, and LeaMae Hatch. He is also proceeded in death by his grandson, Luke Kitchen.

To watch Weldon's services via live stream please click on the link below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83931318824?pwd=NkZ6NkMvbnYyRkRKZW95NVZGcjhTdz09