"Midge" Madge Sophia Lamping Cahill

Our dear mother, sister, grandmother and great-grandmother, Madge (“Midge”) Sophia Lamping Cahill of Taylorsville, Utah, peacefully returned home to the loving arms of her mother, siblings, and Father in Heaven at Sandy, Utah on Saturday, May 25, 2019 at the age of 97.

Midge was born at her parents’ home on 819 Roosevelt Ave in Salt Lake City, Utah on May 17, 1922, the fifth of nine children born to Peter Joseph and Eva Mabel Stroud Lamping. She graduated from South High School in Salt Lake City in 1939 and went to work at Hill Field (now Hill Air Force Base) cleaning aircraft parts and taking flying lessons in her off hours. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, she moved to Los Angeles, California and became a defense worker at Lockheed Aircraft Corporation. It was from there that in May 1943, she enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps and proudly and faithfully served her country during World War 2 – first at Fort McClellan, Alabama and later overseas in Australia and New Guinea generating the V-mail (Victory Mail) to be shipped back home to soldiers’ families. She was honored to have been a part of America’s “Greatest Generation”. Midge once said of her return home from World War 2, “I was glad to be home. I was thrilled to see the world but it also made me realize what a wonderful country we live in. It is definitely worth dying for.”

While stationed at Brisbane, Australia, she had a chance encounter with her Jr. High School sweetheart, Corporal John Ray (“Jack”) Whitlock. Four days later, on June 21, 1944 – having secured the permission of General Douglas McArthur – Pfc. Lamping and Corporal Whitlock were married. Midge’s marriage to Jack made all the national papers as the first marriage of a WAC in the southwest Pacific. Midge married her second husband, Gordon Merle Cahill, on February 21, 1959 at Las Vegas, Nevada.

For many years Midge owned and managed her own hair salon in Salt Lake City. In 1958 she served as the President of the Utah Hair Fashion Council. She took great pride in her German and Southern heritage. Her black cherry cake, knadles (stuffed cabbage rolls with sauerkraut), and Spanish noodles are famous among her family. She was a talented seamstress, crafter of porcelain dolls, and knitted dozens of afghans for others. She was an avid reader and author of historical fiction – even self-publishing her own Civil War-era historical novel entitled “Cradle of Love, Cradle of Hate” in 2005. She was born with a ‘green thumb’ and was proud of the many varieties of irises and California poppies which beautifully adorned her garden. Midge was a captivating storyteller – often recounting stories of her family, her wartime experiences, and her many travels. Throughout her life she always maintained an amazing sense of humor. She was witty, funny, and possessed an infectious laugh that made everybody smile. A visit to Grandma Midge’s home was always accompanied with a plate of cookies and a bowl of ice cream.

Most of all, Midge will be remembered for her ardent patriotism, her love and concern for the happiness and well-being of her children and grandchildren, and her unwavering faith in God and Jesus Christ.

Midge is survived by her four children, John (Liz) Whitlock of Ogden, Andrew (Joy) Whitlock of Saratoga Springs, Shaun (Pam) Cahill of Taylorsville and Susie Cahill of Vancouver, British Columbia. Also survived by one brother, Patrick (“Bud”) Lamping of Holladay; 15 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by her parents, Peter and Eva Lamping; siblings Ardella (“Ardie”) Snyder, Ivadell (“Ivy”) Swaner, Virginia (“Jenny”) Elmen, John (“Jack”) Lamping, Lavenda May Lamping, William (“Bill”) Lamping, and Franklin (“Jerry”) Lamping.

The family wishes to express its deepest gratitude to Beverly Workman and the team at Superior Home Care for their care and compassion towards Midge over the last three years of her life.

A memorial service will be held at McDougal Funeral Home, 4330 S Redwood Rd., Taylorsville, Utah on June 15, 2019 at 1:00 pm. Midge’s desire was that her remains be scattered at her brother Bud’s property located near Smith and Morehouse (Oakley), Utah – a place that she dearly loved. Written by Shaun Cahill and Orvill S. Paller, May 2019

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