Dr. Robert Glen Vincent, Ph.D., age 84 years, was born September 29, 1939, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Charles Glen Vincent and Vivian Marie Morgan and passed away peacefully April 11, 2024, surrounded by family.
He graduated from South High School in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1957 and served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the South German Mission from 1960 - 1962. He married Carol Ann Shampton on December 6, 1963, in the Salt Lake Temple. Together they had six beautiful children. He attended the University of Utah and received his Ph.D. in Social Work. His profession afforded him many opportunities to serve people. He was a counselor at the Salt Lake County Detention Center and became the Group Living Director. He was a counselor with LDS Social Services while working towards his PhD. After receiving his degree, he taught at the University of Utah School of Social Work as an assistant professor. His position at the University gave him the opportunity to move to Vernal, Utah, where he worked among the Ute Indian Tribe training social work students and then worked at the Vernal Family Health Center as part of a team sponsored by the University of Utah. When the Center closed, he went into private practice doing Marriage and Family Counseling until he was hired by the Uintah School District as their Educational Specialist. He attended Utah State University to receive his administrative certificate and became a principal of Discovery Elementary, then Uintah High School, and finally, Vernal Junior High School of which he said, “Being a principal was the best job I ever had. The kids were wonderful.” He retired from Uintah School District in 1998 and moved back to the Salt Lake City area where he worked at the State Office of Education for a few more years before completely retiring in 2005.
He was a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints having served in several different capacities throughout his life after serving a full-time mission. He was a member of the General Board of the MIA, Stake Executive Secretary, and High Councilor, but his favorite calling was that of a teacher. He always professed that, “Teaching Gospel Doctrine is the best job in the Church.”
He enjoyed working at his farm in Lapoint, Utah alongside his children and was the epitome of hard work. His philosophy for his children and his students was, “To build competent, skillful, educated, ethical citizens.” In addition, he enjoyed many recreational activities including camping, boating (specifically to Lake Powell and the San Juan Islands), 1957 T-birds, fast Mustangs, skiing, golfing, and flying in his Cessna 182.
He was preceded in death by his father and mother and leaves behind his wife Carol of 60 years, a brother, John Paul (Cynthia) of Houston, Texas; children: Robert Jeffrey (Wendy) Vincent of Pleasant Grove, Utah; Jennifer Ann (Brent) Dillon of Riverton, Utah; Rebecca Ileen (the late Bradly) Merkley of Rigby, Idaho; Ryan Andrew Vincent (Jennifer Bonilla) of Vernal, Utah; Nichole Marie Reid of Spring Branch, Texas; and Tifany Lee (Ryan) Wright of Le Mars, Iowa; as well as 19 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.
An evening viewing will be held Friday, April 19, 2024, from 6 – 8 p.m. at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary, 3401 S Highland Drive, Millcreek, Utah 84106. An afternoon viewing will take place Saturday, April 20, 2024, from 2 – 2:45 p.m. followed by a graveside service at 3:00 p.m.
