Carmen J Libutti's Obituary
Obituary of Carmen J Libutti
Carmen J Libutti, who passed away on July 18, 2017 in Payson, Utah, was the first child and only son born to his Italian immigrant parents, Pasquale and Antonina Libutti in Rochester, New York on September 28, 1923 and was followed by four sisters, Filomena, Sarah, Josephine and Lily. He graduated from Jefferson High School, sold newspapers, worked at grocery stores and caddied. He served in World War II with the Army Air Force, trained as a top turret gunner and flight engineer crew member on a B-24, but was spared active duty as the war ended. His last assignment took him to Mountain Home Air Base in Idaho, where he met Olive Margaret Davis at a dance. He worked for the Veterans Administration Hospital, and with his first paycheck bought her engagement ring and they were married on January 3, 1947. Their daughter Teresa Lee was born the next year and their son Gene the year after. After many years of attending the LDS Church, he was baptized on September 27, 1959. His family was sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple on June 2, 1961.
His career with the Veterans Administration Hospital took him to many places including Hillside and Warrenville Illinois, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Perry Point, Maryland, Oklahoma City, Naperville, Illinois and Brecksville, Ohio. His LDS Church service in those places included Branch President twice, Bishop, and member of the High Council. When their stake was divided and the new Akron Ohio Stake was formed, he was called to serve as its first Stake President. At the time, Elder Bruce R. McConkie said that, to his knowledge, Carmen was the first full Italian to serve as a Stake President in the worldwide Church.
His retirement at the age of 55 took them back to Meridian, Idaho, from which they left to serve in the Harrisburg Pennsylvania Mission. They served in the Boise Temple from its opening, in many positions, including the temple presidency. He and his wife Margaret enjoyed their life together, traveling, serving, laughing, and taking walks. Carmen built three family homes, beautiful furniture, a family cabin and especially relationships.
After he and Margaret served their second mission in Bermuda, they moved to Springville, Utah and when a series of strokes left him paralyzed on one side, he moved to Provo to be close to family. For the next 22 years he lived and loved life despite his handicaps and limitations, attended family events, saw his five grandsons all become Eagle Scouts, rejoiced in all the grandchildren accomplishments, missions and marriages, valiantly attended church and the temple, and blessed the lives of those around him. He was jovial, interested, generous, strong, appreciative, kind, obedient, faithful and endured to the end with a capital “E”.
His beloved wife Margaret’s passing three years ago and his daughter Terry’s the year before were his hardest challenges, but his hope and knowledge of the resurrection strengthened him. His testimony and example of living the gospel of Jesus Christ is a legacy he passes to his family. He is survived by one sister, Josephine, his son Gene (Sheri), son-in-law Rick (Nancy) Lege, many nieces and nephews, seven grandchildren Stephen (Sarah) Lege, Ryan (Sayuri) Lege, Joanna (Chris) Stinson, Matthew (Julianne) Libutti, Kristi (Drew) Burton, John (Jessica) Libutti and Scott (Rachel) Libutti and eleven great-grandchildren, Madelyn, Sydney, and Mason Lege, Kiina, Kokomi and Rio Lege, Jackson, Lucy, Tessa and Bobbi Libutti and Claire Burton, with more coming. His family expresses appreciation to supportive friends through the years and those at the Provo Beehive Home and the Mervyn Smart Bennion Central Utah Veterans Home in Payson who gave such kind service the last years of his life.
Funeral services will be 11:00 am, Friday, July 28, 2017 at the Lakeside 7th Ward, 2225 West 620 North, Provo, Utah with a viewing prior to services from 9:45 to 10:45 am. Interment at the Springville Evergreen Cemetery.
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