WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY (Washington County, Utah)
VERNON WORTHEN
(teacher & principal, church leader)
BIOGRAPHY
Vernon Worthen was born in St. George on April 19, 1895, the son of George W. & Leonora Woodbury Worthen.He attended elementary schools in St. George. He graduated from Dixie College in 1918 and from Brigham Young University in 1931. He served in the military for a year during World War I, 1918-1919.
In 1919, he started teaching in Glenwood, Sevier County. The next year he moved back to St. George where he taught until 1929. He became Principal in 1929, a position he held for 31 years. In 1955, he was assigned to open the new West Elementary School and served as its first Principal. Mr. Worthen retired as Principal in 1960.
He worked at the Post Office from 1960 to 1965. He was also a mason, carpenter, gardener, salesman, and part-time bookkeeper. He served 36 years on the Washington County Welfare Board, 20 of those years as Chairman. He was a St. George City Councilman for 10 years. He was a Director and President of the St. George Savings and Loan for many years. He was the County Bee Inspector from 1941 to 1981.
Called as a Counselor in 1925, he was Bishop of the St. George West Ward from 1930 to 1940. Then he was in the St. George Stake Presidency for another 10 years. In 1963-1966, he served in the bishopric while the old South Ward chapel was remodeled. He headed the committee to raise funds for the remodeling of the St. George Tabernacle.
Vernon Worthen died on November 27, 1984 and was buried in the St. George Cemetery.
FAMILY
TBDPHOTOS
WCHS photos:WCHS-00217 Photo of Vernon Worthen, principal of West Elementary School, 1955-1960
WCHS-00223 Photo of the West Elementary School 1955-1956 faculty
WCHS-03863 Photo of Vernon Worthen in Mrs. Hazel Fawson's 1959-1960 kindergarten class
REFERENCES
Dixie State College of Utah, Oral HistoriesVernon Worthen interviewed by Harris 8/28/1968 (Accession number 68-046AB)
Lorna (Perkins) Worthen interviewed by Harris 8/28/1968 (Accession number 68-047)
Vernon & Lorna (Perkins) Worthen inteviewed by Gott 2/25/1975 (Accession number 75-003)
Located in the DSC Val A. Browning Library, Archives & Special Collections