Elder C. Max Caldwell, a former member of the Seventy, passed away at his home in Lehi, Utah, on June 19 at the age of 78.
Known as a man who lived by his motto, "True at all times," Elder Caldwell spent his life serving in different callings and capacities in the Church.
He was called to serve in the Second Quorum of the Seventy in 1992, and fulfilled various assignments until his release in 1997. Some of those assignments included serving in area presidencies in the North America West, Philippines/Micronesia and Europe areas of the Church. He also served as assistant executive director of the Family History and Audiovisual departments of the Church.
Prior to his call to the Seventy, Elder Caldwell, accompanied by his wife, Bonnie, presided over the Louisiana Baton Rouge Mission from 1983-86. He also served as regional representative, bishop, stake president's counselor, branch president at Missionary Training Center, high councilor, member of the Church Adult Correlation Review Committee and as a missionary in the North Central States Mission from 1953-55.
In a Church News interview just after he was called to the Seventy, Elder Caldwell said, "I knew if we [famiy and missionaries] were true at all times, like the stripling warriors in Alma 53:20, then Doctrine and Covenants 59:23 would result — to have peace in this world and eternal life in the world to come. The thing that thrills me in Section 59 is that we can enjoy the fruits of becoming true and faithful here as well as hereafter."
Elder Caldwell earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Utah in 1958, and later completed a master's degree in 1971 from Brigham Young University in Church history and doctrine. He made his career in the Church Educational System, including time as an associate professor of Church history and doctrine at BYU, an institute teacher at Utah State University and a seminary teacher in Salt Lake City.
Elder Caldwell served as a pilot in Korea for the U.S. Army, 1957-61.
He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Dec. 4, 1933, to Chellus M. and Electa J. Caldwell. He and his wife, Bonnie Adamson, were married in the Salt Lake Temple in September 1952; they have five children. Sister Caldwell passed away in December 2002. He is survived by his second wife, Joann Penrod, whom he married in November 2003. He is also survived by four of his five children, seven stepchildren, and numerous grandchildren.
A funeral is scheduled for Monday, June 25, at 10:00 a.m. at the Lehi North Stake center, 650 East 3100 North, Lehi, Utah.
A public viewing will be held Sunday evening, June 24, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Sundberg Olpin Mortuary, 495 S. State Street, Orem, and Monday morning from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the stake center prior to the funeral services.
