Lena Dean Dowding

Lena Dean Dowding died April 3, 2023 at age 91 in Provo, Utah with family at her side. Dean was born January 14, 1932 in Midvale, Utah to William Wallace Talbot and Lena Jennie Joosten. She grew up in the Salt Lake valley and graduated from Jordan High School in 1950. In 1952 she married Alma Lynn Dowding in the Salt Lake Temple. They raised four children: Christy (deceased), Laura, Pam, and Jeff (deceased), mostly in Atlanta, Georgia. The family also lived in Denver, CO and Bartlesville, OK.

Dean was known for her amazing artistic and sewing abilities. She also enjoyed visiting with friends, reading, and cats. In 1986, Dean and Lynn retired to Sandy where they lived for over thirty years. Dean led an active life in retirement, spending time with grandchildren, traveling, and volunteering professionally with the American Red Cross. She visited or volunteered in places all over the US, along with Samoa, the Soviet Union, and much of western Europe. Lynn predeceased her in 2002. She later married Lloyd Burnett. In 2014 she married her high school friend, Joe Gardner; he died in 2021. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren fondly remember the big Christmas parties and Easter Egg hunts at her house.

Preceded in death by her parents and step-parents, husbands, brother Wallace Jay Talbot, and beloved children Christy and Jeff. Survived by ten grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and her dear friends Joan and Trish.

Graveside services will be held Saturday, April 8th at 2:30 pm at the Sandy City Cemetery.