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LT Douglas B. Smith, USN Retired Douglas B. Smith passed away on January 12, 2013. He was born on February 22, 1922 to John L. and Virginia B. Smith in Denver, CO; they soon moved to San Antonio, TX. Following high school, Doug joined the Navy. Not long after, he married Lorene M. Monks. He loved the Navy and the sea, and moved up the ranks from seaman to LT in his 30 years of active duty. He served during WWII (Pearl Harbor Survivor), Korean and Vietnam Wars. Two of the 14 ships he sailed on were sunk, the Downes at Pearl Harbor and the Benham at Guadacanal. He retired in San Diego, CA, and spent the next 18 years skippering private yachts. He was a member of the Elks and Eagles, and he loved to golf and travel. After 50 years of marriage he lost his wife, but Doug was a very lucky man and found another amazing woman he made his wife, Paula Beebe. He is survived by his wife Paula, daughter Deana Ford (Vern), granddaughter Denise Bergen (Jim), great-grandson Justin Jachetta (Taleesha), great-great-granddaughter Elliana, sons Rick Beebe (Grace), Gordon Beebe (Lonna), and Dennis Beebe (Zerna), daughter Jennifer Smith (Steve), 11 other grandchildren, 13 other great-grandchildren, and two nieces. We will miss him deeply, especially his strength, determination, and most of all his humor. A celebration of life will be held on January 20, 2013 at the Puyallup Elks Lodge from 2PM to 5PM. In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made to the Pearl Harbor Memorial at Pacific Historic Parks, 1 Arizona Memorial Place, Honolulu, HI 96818.
Published in News Tribune (Tacoma) on January 17, 2013
