Cleda Newton

Together Again

Cleda Lorraine Vollmar Newton was born April 12, 1926 in Hale Center, Texas to Andrew Edward Vollmar and Cleda Bell Diedrich Vollmar. Cleda was born two months premature and weighed just two and a half pounds. Sadly, her mother passed away hours after her birth. Just days after she was born she took a train with her father and aunts to Raymondville, Missouri to bury her mother. She surprised everyone by surviving the journey.

Cleda was raised in Raymondville by her grandpa, Frank Benjamin Vollmar, and grandma, Mollie Elizabeth Sherwood Vollmar, whom she called Mama, for 14 years until her grandma's passing. She then moved to St. Louis, Missiouri and lived with her Aunt Tennie and Uncle Frank Snyder. She attended and graduated Affton High School. She loved to go dancing. During World War II she worked in a bearing factory during the day and would go out dancing at night. One night fate intervened when she and her friend switched dance partners. Her new partner, Paul Newton, was stationed in St. Louis with the Army during the war. He became the love of her life and her dance partner for eternity.

Paul and Cleda were married on August 17, 1946 in Mona, Utah. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. They lived in Salt Lake City while Paul attended and graduated from the U with his teaching degree. Cleda took a job as a department store sales clerk. She loved to work and had numerous jobs before she and Paul settled down in Kearns, Utah. They lived in Kearns for 46 years and raised their four children there. Paul and Cleda retired and moved to St. George, Utah in 1993. They loved the sunny weather. Cleda always said she loved "hot summer nights" and it when it was 90 degrees in the shade.

Cleda's "rock," Paul, passed away on February 23, 2013. Their separation was short. Paul called her home on April 11, 2013 when she passed away peacefully in her sleep, in St. George, Utah.

Cleda loved raising her children and being a mother. She often said she would love to roll back the clock and do it all over again if she could. She was a doting grandma and "Grandma-Great". She always had a lap to sit on, a story to share, and a cookie in the jar for her grandkids. She loved to teach Primary and taught for 28 years. She never had a bad word to say about anyone and saw only the good in all those she knew. She was a great friend to all who knew her and loved to keep in touch with all of her friends and family--she would often say the telephone was her best friend. She loved to reminisce on her life, especially growing up with her grandma and Aunt Tennie. She loved to laugh and would get a twinkle in her eye over a good joke. She was a cheerleader, hero, and mentor to her family and shared her wisdom with love and grace. She truly was the heart of her family.

She is survived by her children, Vickie (Lynn) Jones, Debbie (Robert) Wilkins, Paula (Lee) Taylor and Ray (Jane) Newton, 13 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, her four brothers Raymond, Norman, Frankie and Gene Vollmar, and her sweetheart Paul.

Visitation will be held Thursday April 18th, 12:30-1:30 PM at the Green Valley 7th Ward LDS Chapel off Indian Hills Drive (1282 West 500 South, St. George, Utah). Arrangements are under the care of Heideman Hughes Mortuary 435-674-5000. Graveside services following the visitation at 2:00 PM at Tonaquint Cemetery, 1777 S Dixie Drive, St. George, Utah.