Carl Alexander Inglish

Carl Alexander Inglish returned to his heavenly home at the age of 102 on Friday, September 6, 2024. Carl was born in Avondale, Arizona, August 20, 1922. He was the youngest of seven children born to Earl and Bertha Inglish. He started his education in a one room school, but his family soon moved to Mesa where he attended Mesa schools until the summer after his junior year. Fascination with airplanes prompted him to take a course in airplane mechanics, which led him to San Diego in pursuit of a summer job working as a template maker for Ryan Aeronautics aircraft factory. By taking courses at night, he was able to complete his graduation certification through Engineering and Science Management (ESM).

About a year later, he returned to Mesa where he met and married Erma Eagar in the Mesa Temple in 1943. In 1945, he joined the Army Air Corps and moved his wife and small son, John, to Keesler Field near Biloxi, Mississippi where he was trained as a flight engineer on a C54 air transport cargo plane. After being discharged, they moved back to Arizona where he entered the University ofArizona in Tucson and earned a BS Degree in Civil Engineering.

Following graduation, he got a full time job with Southern Pacific Railroad Company which took him and his family to Oregon, Arizona, Texas, and California as promotions and new assignments came along. A daughter, Carla, joined the family in 1949, followed by a son, Scott, in 1955. For Carl, these were years of working hard, being a devoted husband, being a great example and father to his children, and dedicating time and energy to being an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Sadly, this was also a season that required loving care during Erma’s fight with cancer that ended with her passing in 1974.

Jean Dey Comeau, a widow with 3 grown children, Sherry, Jedy, and Fred, entered Carl’s life shortly after Erma’s passing. They were married in the Los Angeles Temple in 1974, and spent nearly 50 loving years together. In 1983 he retired and they moved from West Covina, California to Mesa. They spent their time with nearby family, traveling, making new friends, and learning new things. They worked as ordinance workers in the Mesa Temple and were called to serve in the Family History Center in Salt Lake City. Their move to St. George in 2000 was the last major move they would make. They loved visiting family and spending time with grandchildren and great grandchildren. He enjoyed being active with his grandchildren, hiking, riding bikes, and playing frisbee. Even at 100 years old Carl played on the floor with his great grandchildren. 

His hobbies over the years included building model airplanes that flew with a small gas engine, tinkering with transistors, capacitors and all things electronic, and avidly reading. He was a life-long learner with a keen intellect clear to theend. His love of continued learning led Carl and Jean to take a class in building custom computers in their 70’s. Carl was a fixer. Nothing that broke in the house was ever sent out to be repaired whether it was overhauling the car transmission, fixing a leak in the plumbing, or fixing whatever went wrong with a bike.

When Carl turned 100 years old in 2022 most of their posterity gathered for the celebration. Sadly, Jean passed away in September of 2022. The next year, on his 101st birthday, he was honored by the mayor of St. George for his service in the armed services during WWII. He was surrounded by family the last few weeks of his life and passed away peacefully in his sleep in Ivins, Utah. He missed loved ones who had passed on before and looked forward to reuniting with them.

He is survived by his children John (Cheryl) Inglish, Carla (Pat, d. 2022) Lewis, Scott (Dorothy-Jane “DJ”) Inglish, Sherry (Pete) Martin, Jedy (Eric, d. 2024) Parsons, Fred (Glenda) Comeau, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. The family would like to thank the staff at Sterling Court Assisted Living, Southern Utah Veterans Home, and Dixie Home Rehab and Hospice for the care they provided Carl.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 28, 2024, at 11:00am at the Mulberry Chapel 3381 Mulberry Dr., St. George, UT. The viewing will be from 9:30-10:30am prior to services. Interment will be in the Tonaquint Cemetery 1777 S. Dixie Dr. St. George, UT following funeral services.