Robert Alston Cloward

Robert was born July 2, 1947 in Springfield, Illinois to Glannin A. and Ruby Dolores Alston Cloward. In his childhood his father was an officer in the U.S. Air Force, so the family lived in many interesting places. Robert graduated from Clearfield High School in Utah. He served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Guatemala and El Salvador. 

While on a semester abroad in Salzburg, Austria he came to love Kathleen Anne Price, whom he married Dec. 16, 1971 in the Salt Lake Temple. He earned his B.A. from Brigham Young University, A.M. from Indiana University, and Ph.D. in Spanish and Linguistics from the University of Illinois. After graduate school he decided that his heart was in teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, so he chose employment with the LDS Church Educational System. He taught for 13 years in Knoxville, Tennessee and was instrumental in organizing Seminary and Institute of Religion in the islands of the Caribbean. Robert and his family moved to Cedar City in 1990 to teach at the Institute of Religion. His joy was his students and his colleagues there. 

An ardent student himself, he was generous in service, and gladly shared his understanding with all who came to him. An important part of his legacy will endure in the lives of hundreds of people who received his caring counsel. In 1993-94 Robert and his family lived in Jerusalem where he was on the faculty of the BYU Jerusalem Center. Robert was motivated by his deep faith in the power and promises of Jesus Christ. He served diligently in teaching and priesthood leadership callings in the Church. He loved music and received profound pleasure seeing his children expand their musical gifts. One of his greatest delights was singing, especially with the ward choir and the Barbershop group, the Iron County Minors.

Robert Alston Cloward, 59, passed away Sept. 11, 2006 at his home in Cedar City, Utah. He suffered from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s Disease).