David H. Wharton

David H. Wharton, 65, born May 8, 1961, died July 18, 2026.

David was born in Anchorage, Alaska, and was the youngest of three children born to Thomas L. and Patty L. Walters Wharton.

David was a kind and caring individual. He loved music and would break out in song anytime, anywhere. He was also impulsive, and this became problematic for him when it came to experimenting with drugs in his teens and was difficult for him to manage most of his life. As an adult, he spent time at Utah State Prison, where he earned an associate's degree and followed up with a business degree from Utah State University. He volunteered with the Flame in Fire crew fighting wildfires and the Nursery for the State Forestry Department and worked as a tutor in education. He was grateful for the opportunity to help others.

When released from prison, he continued treatment for addiction and participated in the CORE program and USARA, where he later became a peer support specialist and traveled to Washington, D.C., to receive an award for being Utah Recovery Ambassador. David continued to attend weekly SMART Recovery meetings up until his death and considered the other participants as family.

Although he had many years of sobriety, his later years were a struggle with mental health, addiction, and much of the time he was unsheltered.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Thomas L. Wharton Jr.

He is survived by his sister, Sandra W. Elliott (David C. Elliott); nieces, Perrie Elliott Brown (Tim Brown) and Loren Elliott; nephew, Thomas Christopher Wharton (Chris Jensen) (Ella); and his beloved dog, Rusty.

We want to thank the University of Utah Hospital staff for treating him with dignity and tender care in his last days.

There will be no services. A private gathering will be held later.

Remembrances in his honor may be made to CORE, USARA, or The Inn Between.