DONALD SMITH

Donald H. Smith 1918 ~ 2010 Donald H. Smith, 92, died June 10, 2010, at his home in Provo, Utah. He was born in Ogden, Utah on February 15, 1918, to Mary McKenzie and Edward E. Smith. His early years were divided between Ogden and southern Idaho. He graduated from Ogden High School, Weber College and Brigham Young University. He worked for the USDA Soil Conservation Service, then enlisted in the Army Air Corps and flew 35 combat missions as a B-17 bomber pilot. He attended graduate school at Iowa State College, and received his PhD degree in Soil Microbiology in 1951. He was employed by the USDA Agricultural Research Service as Soil Scientist, then for 10 years by Pineapple Research Institute, Honolulu, Hawaii, as Soil Chemist. In 1963 he became Agricultural Research Director and Research Manager for Del Monte's operations on Mindanao in the Philippines. In 1973 he returned from abroad and served as a research manager for Del Monte in California until his retirement in 1983. In his younger years he was active in scouting, attained the Eagle rank, and later served as Scoutmaster and Explorer Advisor. He became a member of the LDS Church as a young adult and worked in several clerical and leadership positions. He married Evelyn Dixon of Provo in 1940. She was a loving and supportive wife. She died in 1980, and he married another lovely lady, Jean Hulme Tippetts, in 1981. He is survived by his wife, Jean, two daughters, Karen Griggs and Susan (Byron) Purves, step-daughters Leah (A. J.) Smith and Laura (David) Harmon, step-sons Tom (Lisa) Tippetts and Tracy (Elizabeth) Tippetts. He and Jean together have 28 grandchildren and 54 great-grand children. He is preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and a granddaughter, Jennifer Lynne Purves. He was a wonderful neighbor, friend, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and will be greatly missed. Consistent with his desire to help others, Don donated his body to the University of Utah Medical School. A memorial service for Don will be held on Tuesday, June 15, at 1:00 p.m. at the Pleasant View chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 650 Stadium Ave., Provo, Utah. Friends and family are invited to visit with Don's family from 11:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Family prayer will be at 12:45 p.m. Don has requested that in lieu of flowers, any donations may be made to Latter-day Saint Charities (Humanitarian Services) at www.ldsphilanathropies.org, or through a local congregation.