Thomas Stanley Chynoweth

1939 – 2023

On December 13, 2023, we said a temporary goodbye to our Husband, Dad, Grandpa, Great Grandpa and the “Greatest Fighter of All Time”, Thomas Stanley Chynoweth, age 84, of Lindon, Utah. Tom was born on September 24, 1939. He was the oldest son of William Stanley and Ada Dewsnup Chynoweth. Tom grew up in Deseret, Utah, and moved to Orem, where he graduated from Orem High School. He excelled as an athlete through boxing. He was a Golden Glove Boxer in 1956, and he spent many years training his sons and coaching boys at his father’s club, “Stan’s Boxing Club” in Orem. He also had a unique ability to connect with the youth in the ward and served in the scouting program.

Tom married the love of his life, Joan Frandsen, on November 8th, 1958, in Orem, Utah. They were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple and recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. They lived in the Orem and Ogden areas from 1958 to 1963, before building their first home in Orem, where they lived for 36 years. They built their dream home in Elkridge, Utah, and lived there for 16 years before moving to Las Vegas for 6 years. They returned home to God’s Country to be with their daughter Cheryl in Lindon, Utah this past October. Tom adored all of his grandchildren and considered them his greatest gifts.

He and Joan were inseparable. They loved the outdoors and hunting. Vacations were often spent in the mountains camping and 4-wheeling with family. After they retired, they became snowbirds during the winter months traveling to Arizona and California in their motorhome.

Tom was exceptionally good with his hands and loved woodworking, building gun stalks for his guns and building and refinishing furniture. When he retired, he and Joan became talented woodcarving and wood burning experts. He had a love for cars, and he was an excellent mechanic who could fix almost anything. He also loved to collect coins.

Tom was a diligent worker who took particular care to always do his best and he took pride in a job well done. He was known for his beautiful garden that provided amazing vegetables and fruit. His garden was the place where he taught his family the value of hard work, self-reliance, and patience. He made sure his family had everything they needed growing up, even when that meant working two jobs.

Professionally, Tom was a Crane Operator at Heckett Engineering from 1963 to 2001, and drove Semi Trucks for Snell & Boardman Trucking hauling coal.

Tom is survived by his wife, Joan and their four children: Bill (Kathy) Las Vegas NV, Bob (Kelli) Highland UT, Cheryl (Matt) Lindon, UT, Todd (Andrea) Draper, UT, sister Naomi (Chris) Orem, UT, and seventeen grandchildren, and seventeen great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father, Stan, his mother, Ada, and his sister, Jean.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, December 22, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Sundberg Olpin Mortuary, 495 South State Street in Orem, with a viewing held that morning from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. prior to the services. Interment will be in the Orem City Cemetery. Please visit www.sundbergolpinmortuary.com to leave condolences and memories for the family.