Person:Leah Whittaker (1)

Leah Whittaker: Leah Whittaker, daughter of Arthur Whittaker and Mozetta Smith. Born 25 June 1899, at Circleville, Piute, Utah. Married Karl Wood, 18 April 1919.

Died 30 December 1964. Buried at Circleville. Blessed 6 August 1899, by Jorgen P. Jensen. Baptized by James A. Knights and confirmed by James E. Peterson, 7 July 1907.(84, 452)

1920: Living in Circleville. Can read and write.

25 October 1940: Mrs. Letitia Thompson entertained twelve guests at bridge Monday afternoon. Prizes were won by Leah Wood, Lola Smoot and Vivian Betenson.

13 December 1940: Those enjoying a surprise birthday party for Irene Smith at her home last Tuesday were Ada Whittaker, Maggie Morgan, Lizzie Fullmer, Mozetta Whittaker, Leah Wood, Allie Gottfredson and Ina Horton, Gaia Davis, Alberta Morgan, Vera Haycock and Fern Whittaker.

16 January 1942: Mrs. Dwight Fullmer entertained for the bridge club members and the following guests, Mrs. V.R. Johnson, Lizzie Fullmer, Ina Chamberlain, Marie Crowe and Clara Dalton. Prizes were won by Lola Smoot, Ina Horton and Leah Wood.

13 February 1942: Mrs. Lola Smoot was hostess for the Bridge club at her home Thursday evening. Prizes were defense stamps won by Mrs. Beryl Whittaker, Rose Beebe and Leah Wood.

20 April 1945: Mrs. Leah Wood, Allie Gottfredson, Vera Haycock and Van Haycock left Saturday for a short pleasure trip to Salt Lake City and Provo.

20 April 1945: Mrs. Leah Wood was hostess in the Defense club last Thursday evening. Bridge was played and a delicious luncheon was served. Defense stamps were given as prizes.

7 January 1965: CIRCLEVILLE - Funeral services for Mrs. Leah Wood, 65, Circleville, who died Dec. 30 at her home of a heart disease, were held Saturday in the Circleville Ward Chapel. She was born June 25, 1889 in Circleville, to Arthur and Mozetta Smith Whittaker. She was married to Karl Wood April 8, 1919 in Circleville. She was a member of the LDS Church, Better Homes Club and Circleville Cemetery Beautification Committee. She attended Branch Agricultural College in Cedar City. Survivors include a son, Karl W., Circleville; three grandchildren; brothers, Rex Whittaker, Circleville; Guy Whittaker, Milford. Burial was in the Circleville Cemetery by Neal S. Magleby and Sons Mortuary, Richfield.Leah their eldest daughter was a girl with an abundance of black hair. When curled into ringlets, it hung nearly to her waist. She had pretty blue eyes, was rather fat and plump with a white and pink complexion, was a favorite of her father and mother. When she left for Cedar City to attend the A.C. College, she intended to graduate from the college, but Cupid began throwing his darts for Leah. What a nice young man in Cedar--a Mr. Karl Wood, son of George H. Wood and his wife Lyset Byrn. It must have been love at first sight, for Leah said, "When I met Karl, a thrill went through my heart, and I loved him." So in the spring on 18 April 1919, they were married in Circleville, Utah.Leah was the first child to leave the home of Arthur and Mozetta Whittaker. They like all good parents felt bad at Leah leaving the old nest, but they knew that marriage was ordained by God. So they made the best of things, and life went on as usual. Earl and Leah made their home in Circleville with her parents. Their first home was a comfortable log housein the southern part of the little town.Their first child was born in Circleville. Leah was very, very sick. It was feared that she would pay the supreme sacrifice for her baby girl, but God heard the prayers of her faithful mother, the prayers of the elders, and with the assistance of a good doctor, the mother was spared. But little baby Leah died the same day she was born 4 November 1919. Then three years later Lena Pearl was born 4 November 1922 in Cedar City Hospital. She was a beautiful child, acored by her parents and grandparents, but she only came to this world for a short time to get a body of flesh and blood and to shed a few years of sunshine among those who loved her. For she died very suddenly on 13 February 1924. After over twenty years, Leah still speaks so lovingly of little Lena with her golden hair and blue eyes.

Leah, your sweet little rosebud left you To bloom in a holier sphere. God giveth and God taketh Blessed be His name. Blessed are the purein heart, For they shall see God. This young couple were despondent at the loss of their angel baby, but had faith in Christ's words when he said as quotedin St. John 11:25: "I am the resurrection and the life; he that believethin me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."Time went on and the next year another child made his appearance in the Wood family. This time it ws a boy born 22 Mar 1925. They named him Karl Whittaker. He was a beautiful baby with dark hair and brown eyes. He was idolized by his parents and grew into a fine young man under his mother's constant care. This couple didnot have any more children, but livedin Circleville. Now at the time of this writingin 1945 after many changes in her mother's family, they are a well-to-do family. They have modernized their home untill it isone of the nicest homes in Circleville. Now in the year 1945 at the close of one of the cruelest wars the United States has ever been in, Karlie is a member of the Armed Forces. Just after or before the War, he married a lovely young girl, Eva King from Antamony. She and Karlie have a precious little girl who is waiting in their little bungalow for Karlie to be released from Uncle Sam.Leah and Karl now middle-aged people are happy and contented in their beautiful home in Circleville. Karl is a fine man, a good provider for his family. And Leah is a fine noble woman always on hand to help the needy. If anyonen eeds help in getting to a doctor or to the hospital, she is on hand with her car to help out. She is one of God's chosen daughters.

Karl said to Leah, Many years have had their passing Since we told each other, dear, We would share life's joys and sorrows Close together year by year. We have traveled love's goodhighway Over hill and through the dales Finding sunshine on the pathway Smiling bravely through the gales; Still we're walking on together, Partners in the game of life, Hand in hand and heart to heart, dear, Friends and lovers, man and wife. Life could hold no richer blessings, As the years pass swiftly by, Than to find us still good comrades, Sweethearts, partners, you and I. (E.M. Brarnerd)

1.   Julia M. Bowman.