Willis Arthur Sandholtz

Willis Arthur “Sandy” Sandholtz, a Lab retiree and resident of Livermore, died May 11, at his home.

Born Feb. 27, 1922, in Whitehall, Mont., he was the only child of Claus Arthur Sandholtz and Carma Willis Sandholtz. He grew up in Twin Falls, Idaho, and eventually in Seattle, Wash.

The first in his family to attend college, he entered the University of Washington to study chemical engineering. World War II interrupted his higher education, and he served in the U.S. Army until after the war’s end. Returning to Seattle, he completed his undergraduate education and then earned a master’s degree.

During that time, he met LaMyrl Boyack, whom he married on Sept. 14, 1953. They spent their first years together in St. Paul, Minn., where he worked in the laboratories of the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company.

He settled in Livermore in 1961, beginning work at LLNL, where he continued until his retirement in 1986. He had the curious, exploring mind of a scientist and the practical skills of an engineer. He loved words and wordplay. He was a punster, but also wrote graceful poems for his wife.

Sandholtz led congregations of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Livermore-Pleasanton Valley, serving as bishop in Livermore and served as the first president of the Livermore Stake and as its patriarch.

With his wife, he fulfilled two missions for the church, in Sydney, Australia and in Nauvoo, Ill. He also found great satisfaction in building broad communities of faith. He was an original member of the Tri-Valley Interfaith Council and its president from 1993 to 1995.

He is survived by his wife, LaMyrl; children Wayne and Judy Sandholtz, Signe and Jesse Hepler, Kurt and Carrie Sandholtz, Ilene and Gary Gehrke, Jerie and Robert Jacobs, and Steven and Jennifer Sandholtz; 26 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A memorial service celebrating Sandholtz’s life will take place at 11 a.m. May 23 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1501 Hillcrest Ave., Livermore.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to any of the following organizations: Hope Hospice, the American Parkinson Disease Association, Humanitarian Services of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or the Perpetual Education Fund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.