Adrian Giles

Adrian LeGrand Giles passed away peacefully on November 14, 2023, at age 94.

Adrian was born June 4, 1929, in Salt Lake City, to Sybil Whitmore and Adrian Giles. He was the 4th of 5 children. He lived a long life, outliving most of his family. He then began to outlive his children and in-laws.

He married the love of his life, Shirley Williams on December 17, 1954, in the Salt Lake Temple.

Preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Shirley Williams, parents, daughter Wendy Carmean (Jerry), Sisters Georgeva Morgan (Spencer), Patsy Miller and his brothers, John Giles (Betty), Bryant Giles.

Survived by two of his children, Debbie Purdie (Scott, deceased) and Rick Giles (Myrla).

He was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and regularly attended. He held numerous church callings, including an Inner-City Leadership Mission, with his wife, in downtown Salt Lake.

Adrian grew up just south of what is now the middle of downtown Salt Lake and then just below the Utah State Capital building. He attended West High School and graduated as the class valedictorian in 1947.

Before college, Adrian was called to serve a 2 ½ year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Netherlands/ Belgium area. He had a choice privilege of meeting and teaching the humble and receptive survivors of the war.

After his mission, he attended the University of Utah, earning his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in accounting. After graduation, he began his journey to becoming an accountant and CPA. This plan was short lived as he saw that the new and upcoming technology was computers. He spent most of the next 30+ years as a System Engineer at IBM. (We used to kid him about all the dark suits, white shirts and ties as the 'uniform' for IBM.) Computers were new to the world and at one point in time he claimed to be "the only person in Utah that knew how to install and run a computer." He used this knowledge to help install the first computers in the major hospitals of Salt Lake, the LDS Church Office Building, Brigham Young University and many other sites in the US. He was one of the first instructors at the University of Utah teaching computer operation and programming.

He loved to travel. He made numerous trips to Europe, South America, cruises, and travel all over the United States. He loved and was devoted to his family. He made them his first priority. When he had to travel for an extended period, he would take his family along whenever possible.

One of our family's most memorable outings was a vacation trip to Europe in 1969. With no preset travel agenda, we just arrived, crammed into a VW hatchback and he drove us all over Europe for a month. As a family, we talked about the trip ever since. He taught us a love for travel and seeing new cultures.

He was a very patient man. He gave of his time, played games with us, took us to movies, helped with math homework (although he would repeatedly tell us that he hadn't done math in 20 years) and prepared all our taxes. Not only did he help us, he taught us the importance of a good education. His help, encouragement, and example led his children to take school seriously and all his children graduated from college.

In 1991 he and his wife, Shirley, were called to the Germany, Frankfurt mission where he used his expertise in accounting to help setup the mission's finances. Their time in Germany was very special. Shirley once said that the Christmas they had there, alone but together, was the best one of her life.

He had the ability to talk with people. His family was never sure if there was anyone in downtown Salt Lake that did not know Adrian. His children could never figure out how he did it, but he managed to do so. We could not have asked for a better example and father. We will miss him.

He will be buried at a private family ceremony at Wasatch Lawn on Highland Drive, Monday, November 20, 2023, at 10:30 am.