Beatrice Elizabeth Smith

1926 - 2010

Beatrice Elizabeth Smith September 26, 1926 - November 23, 2010 A graveside service will be held at the Delano Cemetery, 627 Austin St., at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 1. Beatrice Elizabeth Smith, 84, a resident of Delano since July 1, 1963, passed away at home on November 23, 2010. She was born at rural Carnegie, OK on September 26, 1926, the daughter of Bill and Dessie Johnson, and the first of seven children. She married Marvin Dwain Smith on February 29, 1948 at Vernon, TX. She was preceded in death by her father, mother and brother. She is survived by her husband, Dwain Smith; three children and spouses, to wit, Judy McAbee and Bruce, Michael Smith and Lana, and Tami Davis; ten grandchildren and spouses, to wit, Adam McAbee and Dani, Matthew Smith, Timothy McAbee and Kori, Christopher McAbee, Zachary Davis, Emily Hew and Jason, Jessica Smith, Megan Davis, Samuel Davis, and Elizabeth (Lizzie) Davis; and five great- grandchildren, to wit, Lucas McAbee, Benjamin McAbee, Conner McAbee, Aubrey Hew and Russell McAbee. She is also survived by five sisters and spouses, to wit, Freda and Colby Churchman of Bakersfield, Norma and Jimmy Silverstein of Houston TX, Karen and Billy Funkhouser of Hobart, OK, Linda and Fearl Ray of Carnegie, OK and Glenda Smith, and many nieces and nephews. Bea attended college at Southwestern State Teachers College at Weatherford, OK, Oklahoma College for Woman at Chickasha, OK, Bakersfield College and Fresno State. She taught Elementary school for 43 years, 5 of which were in Oklahoma, 3 years in the San Jose area and the remainder of 35 years at Kern Ave. Elementary School in McFarland, CA where she retired in 1992. She dearly loved every child she ever taught. Bea was a long time member of the Methodist Church in Delano, a member of chapter DE P.E.O. Sisterhood since 1971 and served as its President in 1979-80 and a member of the AAUW (American Association of University Women). She was honored by the Delano Masonic Lodge as the top teacher of the Kern Avenue Elementary School in McFarland, CA in 1989, by the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce as the most outstanding teacher at the Kern Avenue Elementary School in McFarland, CA in 1992 and the most outstanding teacher at the Kern Avenue Elementary School in McFarland, CA by the McFarland School District in 1990. Bea and Dwain were married for almost 63 years and they loved traveling. From 1979 to 2008 they traveled to most of the countries of the world. Mission Family Mortuary www.bakersfield.com/obits