EARL STANSFIELD SMITTCAMP

On October 20, 2014, Earl Stansfield Smittcamp died peacefully at his home in Clovis after months of declining health. He was 96 years young! Earl was born in Kerman, CA on May 5, 1918, son of Pearl Arthur Smittcamp and Maude Mertez Downey, although from the age of 12 he and his sister, Margaret Mitchell, were raised by their mother and step-father, Harold Sherwood. Earl attended Fresno State College. In his senior year he was Student Body President and met a fellow student Muriel Schmeiser, the love of his life. Graduating from college together and married on September 7, 1940, Earl and Muriel had four children, Robert, Carol, Betsy and Bill. They had a remarkable 68 year marriage. After marriage, Earl first worked as a milkman before he volunteered for the U.S. Marine Corps in 1941. After training he was sent to the Pacific Theatre as a Second Lieutenant and with the First Marine Division, taking part in four island invasions. Earning four stars from the four invasions plus a Purple Heart and a Citation from the Secretary of the Navy, Earl was placed on inactive reserve in October 1945. In 1951, the Navy awarded him the rank of Major. Earl's Marine training helped him as a leader of men and helped make him and outstanding businessman. In 1945, he and Muriel bought a 200 acre farm at Minnewawa and Nees Avenue in Clovis from her father. Among the crops on the acreage were peaches. 40 acres of peaches became the nucleus of the first Smittcamp Family Business. The farm would eventually become Wawona Ranch, and grow into an agricultural operation - led by son Bob and his brother Billthat includes fruit farming, packing, frozen-foods production and food processing. The operation would grow to include Wawona Orchards, Wawona Frozen Foods, Wawona Packing LLC, and Lyons Magnus. The family ranch is a landmark in Clovis with the Peach Tree Fruit Stand on 160 acres across from Buchanan High School. Earl and Muriel were active in the Clovis/Fresno community, supporting a wide variety of projects and charitable causes. Earl was a Clovis Rodeo Board Member and past Chairman, was named Clovis Outstanding Citizen in 1962, the 1970 Grand Marshall of the Clovis Rodeo, member and President of the Clovis Memorial District and 1994 Man of the Year in the City of Clovis. In 1960, Earl ran for the State Assembly seat and was soundly defeated. A decade later in 1970, Earl ran for the State Senate seat against George Zenovich. Earl walked precincts handing out jars of peach jam with his moto; "He Makes Sense". The results were close but it was another loss. For 25 years, Earl was a member of the Fresno Federal Land Bank. He served as chairman of the Federal Farm Credit Board in 1971 and was on the California State Board of Agriculture from 1970-1972. Earl was inducted into the Frozen Food Hall of Fame in 2005. One of Earl's most valued roles was sitting on the Fresno State Foundation Board and helping the university grow. Graduating from Fresno State in 1939, Earl also received an honorary doctorate degree in 1995. Fresno State was his passion. Earl led the fundraising efforts to build Bieden Field Baseball Stadium and Bulldog Stadium. In 1998, Earl and Muriel gave $2 million in land and cash to the University which launched the Smittcamp Family Honors College and the building of the Smittcamp Alumni House on campus. The Honors college program provides top-performing students a full four years tuition and dorm room fees. Earl has also been a major supporter to St Agnes Medical Center as a Board member and Chairman. Earl has been honored with other community awards that he was very proud of, The Leon S. Peters Community Service award in 1993 given by the Fresno County Chamber of Commerce. Earl was a visionary farmer that understood the benefits of value-added products, a successful businessman that knew how to make a company prosper with teamwork, a philanthropist that realized the value of supporting the community and our educational partners. Earl was a true family man and a gentleman. Earl joins his wife Muriel in heaven, and leaves his earthly family; son, Bob Smittcamp; daughter, Carol and husband Dr. Lee Copeland; daughter, Betsy and husband Robert Kimball; son, Bill Smittcamp and wife Linda; and his grandchildren Brent, Lisa, Brandon, Nathan, Carrie, Courtney, Greg, Kristen, Katie, Samantha, Jessica, Blake, Bradley and Blair. And not forgetting his 24 great-grandchildren. A Service will be held at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 12168 North Willow Ave. in Clovis 93619 on Friday, October 24, 2014, at 2:30 p.m. Remembrances may be made to the Smittcamp Family Honors College, 2625 E. Matoian Way, Fresno, CA 93724; Children's Hospital Central California, 9300 Valley Children's Place, Madera, CA 93638; or donor's favorite charity.