Ernest Joseph Sodja

Ernest Joseph Sodja (Ernie) 1920 ~ 2013 Ernest passed away April 26, 2013 from causes incident to age. He was born on December 31, 1920 in Tooele, Utah to the parents of Joseph Frank Sodja and Mary Margaret Nemanic Sodja. As a youngster he spent a lot of time each summer in the city swimming pool and became an excellent swimmer. As a child Ernie learned to play golf from his father. It became a lifelong hobby spanning into his retirement years where he would play each morning with his Copper Club golf buddies. He attended Tooele High School where he was a member of the drama club and appeared in several plays. He loved football and was a member of the 1937 Tooele High team which won the state championship and was rewarded with a trip to Hawaii to play two high schools. The team traveled there by ship and everyone on board became seasick. On Oahu they were still very weak and lost games with Roosevelt and Kamehameha high school. He graduated from Tooele High School in 1938 and then attended the University of Utah where he played football. He became a lifelong Utah fan, following the Ute s and wearing his Utah red. He met his wife, Marian Stevens, when they were eating their meals in the same boarding house near the University. They were married January, 1941. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple in August, 2009. He went to work at Hill Field until being called into service by the U.S. Navy and assigned to the aircraft carrier Manila Bay. After being released from the military he had a lengthy career with the U.S. Postal Service, primarily in Magna, Utah. He and Marian loved to travel. They especially looked forward to going to Island Park, Idaho each July with their RV friends and then going to Hawaii every October. Survived by wife Marian; son Marty (Jacque); Kay, daughter-in-law; 6 grandchildren, Steven (Kris) Sodja; Terri (Rick) Sanders; Julie (Doug) Moore; Mark (Lynette) Sodja; Lindsay (Justyn) Boudreau; Haylee (Chris) Long; 15 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandson. Preceded in death by son Paul J. and daughter Sandra J. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, May 1, 2013, 1:00 p.m. at McDougal Funeral Home, 4330 South Redwood Road. A viewing will be held 12-12:45 p.m. prior to funeral services. Interment: Valley View Memorial Park. The family would like to thank Rocky Mountain Hospice and the wonderful and caring staff at Carrington Court Assisted Living, especially Vickie. Hobbies:Swimming, golf andtraveling to Idaho and HawaiiOccupation:Assistant Postmaster