Denis Stoddard

Denis Waldo Stoddard
April 15, 1939 – September 19, 2026
Denis Waldo Stoddard, beloved son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and caring friend, returned to his eternal Home on September 19, 2026. He was 87 years old.

Denis lived a valiant life illuminated by his dynamic personality; high energy; positive outlook; contagious enthusiasm; and deep love of God, family, and his fellowmen. He walked with a natural spring in his step and set a pace that was hard to match. He was equally comfortable standing in a boardroom training executives and on his knees creating magical toy kingdoms with his beloved grandchildren. His motto was “If we’re not having fun, we’re not doing it right!” He cared deeply about everyone, talked easily with complete strangers, and often came home from outings having made several new friends. He was a visionary who looked for the positive in people and situations and could find creative solutions to difficult problems. He was also blessed with powerful leadership qualities that inspired others to reach for their best. His desire to mend broken things ranged from happily fixing broken toys in his workshop to mending broken hearts and lives through his professional training, church service, and his great capacity to love.

Denis was born April 15, 1939, in Monterey Park, California to Harriet Eva Rowley and Arley Lovell Stoddard. His parents were hardworking and faithful people who left the farms of Idaho during the Great Depression to work for the Union Pacific Railroad in California. They created a loving home where Denis grew up with his older sister Ronda, older brother Lovell, and younger brother Roy. Denis was the first child to be born in California and the first to be born with red hair. They said it must be because of the California sunshine. Growing up around the railroad gave him a lasting fascination for trains, which in later years, led to a legendary Christmas Train Village that brought much joy to his children and grandchildren.

In his youth, his high energy occasionally got him into trouble and even a few gang fights. A turning point came when his friends voted him to be the president of all the young men in his stake. It made him conscious of how his life affected others. He made a commitment to himself and to God to strive to be a good example and to lift others from that time on.

After graduating from Montebello High School, Denis joined his older brother Lovell in enlisting in the Air National Guard -- US Air Force. He was a patriot and loved his country. He also attended college and began employment in the aerospace industry in California where he helped work on America’s early satellites and the first moonshot.

He was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a disciple of Jesus Christ. He was called to serve in the Central States Mission from June 1960 to June 1962. While serving, he was given responsibility for traveling to train and work with missionaries covering ten states. This mission transformed his life in multiple ways.

Two weeks after returning home from his mission, Denis had another experience that would change his life forever. The stars collided when he met the beautiful Laurel Young at a regional church dance in Long Beach, California. Their love story began that night and grew even stronger through their three-year courtship. They were married on August 21, 1965, in the Oakland California Temple and they recently celebrated their 61st anniversary. They were blessed with seven children who are the greatest joys of their lives! They are the happy grandparents of 32 amazing grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren and counting…

After his mission experience, Denis decided he liked helping people to improve their lives even more than creating breakthroughs in engineering. He returned to college, following his sweetheart Laurel to BYU. Of course, he was in the middle of making things happen and became one of the founding members of the BYU Cougar Club. He graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in political science in 1966. Dr. Robert Hamblin, a renowned professor from Washington University in St. Louis, had been impressed with Denis as a missionary. He invited Denis back for graduate studies with him in his nationally acclaimed social psychology program. While there, Denis was awarded the National Steel fellowship and participated in the cutting edge of autism research. He received his master’s degree and then his doctorate degree from Washington University in Saint Louis in 1970.

His early career as a behavior analyst spanned from being the Director of the National Children’s Center in Washington D.C., to the head of the ground-breaking “Try Another Way” Project for the state of Ohio, to the Executive Director of the Ohio Disabilities Council. He then formed his own company, CTDI – Comprehensive Training and Development Inc. where he continued to help individuals with developmental disabilities. He later transitioned into business, working as a cabinet member at Nationwide Insurance for executive development. He also worked as an executive consultant for United Way, Franklin Covey, Ohio State University, The Mayo Clinic, and many other organizations.

He loved his Savior Jesus Christ and was honored to serve Him in any way he was needed. He served in many callings including as a bishop twice – of the Kensington Ward in Maryland and of the Columbus First Ward in Ohio. Later, he was called as President of the Columbus Ohio North Stake, where he helped prepare the way for the Columbus Ohio Temple. He was also a master teacher, a mission president’s counselor, and an amazing Scout leader who planned inspiring high adventures that changed young men’s lives forever. In addition, he loved his unofficial calling as the Relief Society Activities Nursery Leader when his wife, Laurel, was serving as Relief Society President,

With his indomitable spirit, Denis overcame several serious health challenges later in life. He had a miraculous recovery from acute myeloblastic leukemia, after receiving a prognosis of six weeks to live, when he was just 54. He went on to live for another 33 years. At 74, he suffered a major stroke but fought back to walk again and enjoy another 13 years of amazing life. Through all these challenges, he remained positive, grateful, and filled with faith.

All who knew him have been blessed by his amazing life and example. He followed the Savior, whom he knew and loved. He filled the world with love and light and joy.

Denis is preceded in death by his parents, Arley and Eva Stoddard.

He is survived by his cherished wife, Laurel, and their wonderful children – Stephanie Clift (Wayne), Tamara Petty (Jon), Brooke Stucki (Kevin), Faith Wallis (Chad), Scott Stoddard (Natalie), Tiffany Sullivan (Cecil), and John Stoddard (Aria), 32 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Ronda Teel, and brothers Lovell Stoddard (Jeanette) and Roy Stoddard.

Services will be held at the LDS South Cottonwood Ward building.
6180 S Glen Oaks Dr, Murray, UT 84107
Viewing: Saturday, September 26th 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Followed by a service to celebrate his life: Saturday, September 26th 12:30 PM

Denis emphasized that he wanted this to be a celebration and the family invites everyone to wear their happiest colors.

To view these services virtually, please use this Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/97710937911
Burial will be at Larkin Sunset Gardens in Sandy, Utah.