Don Robert Smith

1923 ~ 2012
Don Robert Smith was born February 23, 1923, in Murray, Utah, to Orson and Elsie F. Smith. Elsie died when Don was six years old. Don was the middle child, and he is survived by all his siblings: Harold O Smith, Virginia S. Johns, Margaret Gale Snyder and Gwen S. Anderson. At age eight his new mother became Merna R. Smith.
He competed in sports and performed in plays at Jordan High School. He was called "Whizzer Smith" due to his track achievements, notably a ¼-mile race at 51.1 seconds, a record that remained unbroken for over 10 years.
Don served in World War II stationed at Annapolis with the Navy. While in the Naval officer program, he graduated with a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering at the U of Washington and then worked at Geneva Steel. He then obtained his Doctorate Degree of Dental Sugery from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in San Francisco and then practiced dentistry in Saratoga, California. He served as bishop for the San Jose California 9th Ward and the Salt Lake City 13th Ward. He loved jogging, swimming, photography and traveled the world wide.
He and wife, Venna Jensen, were married by Pres. Harold B. Lee on May 23, 1945, and enjoyed 67 years together. They served an LDS mission in the London Temple where he was a sealer.
He is continued to be loved by Venna and his six children: Scott Don, Tyler (Gerhild), Kim (Deanna), Mark (Ruth), Crystal S. Sandberg (Barry) and Jan S. Petty (Ralph). He leaves many beloved grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 at the Salt Lake 13th Ward, 630 East 100 South. Visitations will be Tuesday, March 13th between 6 to 8 p.m. at Larkin Mortuary, 260 East South Temple, and one hour prior to services at the ward on Wednesday. Interment Brigham City Cemetery. Condolences: www.larkinmortuary.com