Delbert Bower Smith

Delbert Bower Smith 1/7/1920 ~ 2/25/2009 Delbert (Deb) passed away on February 25th in Salt Lake City. He was born in Paul, Idaho to Dilla Wattenbarger and Edward Smith. Deb moved with his family to Salt Lake City when he was 8-years old. He graduated from West High School and the University of Utah where he played on the basketball team. In World War II, he was in the Army Aircorps, and when the war ended, he married his college sweetheart Marcene Petersen. They had 62 years of a beautiful marriage. When the war ended, Deb played on the St. Louis Bombers basketball team in the first season of the N.B.A. He then coached basketball at Payson, Cypress and West High Schools. In 1955 Delbert led his Cypress High School team to win the State Championship. Deb and Marcene moved to California in 1959 where Deb was a high school counselor at Los Altos High School for 35 years. He also coached tennis. When Deb retired, they moved back to Salt Lake City. Deb and Marcie loved to travel. When they weren't with their grandchildren or their many California and Utah friends, they were traveling. Deb is survived by his daughter Holly Ausbeck and his four grandchildren Avy, Carlyn, Claire and Christopher. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him. Memorial services will be held Friday, March 6, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary Chapel, 3401 Highland Drive, SLC.