T. Graham Smith

SMITH , T. Graham December 11, 1919 - July 17, 2009 Graham is survived by his beloved wife Alison, of sixty-two-and-a-half years; his children, Penny, Digby, Roger and Nigel (Germaine) and their children Devin (Donna), Bryson and Rodney. He will also be remembered by his two great-grandchildren Corey and Tanner and his nephews John and Richard Smith of the United Kingdom. Dad will be missed by Golden Retrievers, Spenser and Jasper "the handsome one". He was also very fond of his two cats Fiona and Callum. Dad was born in the English village of Gringley-on-the-Hill on the border of Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. He started serving in the Royal Air Force in 1937. He became a Mosquito Pilot and was invited to join the Pathfinders' 18 Squadron. On one of his operations, he and his navigator Art Sheer of Ottawa, had to return to base due to a Mosquito that needed repair. They then accomplished the mission on their own. He then transferred to the Commonwealth Air Force Training Programme in 1943 and served in southern Alberta. Dad then became a journalist working on several newspapers in England before he came to work at the Albertan in Calgary. Dad's career in the newspaper industry continued when he became the Editor of the North Hill News/Rockyview News from 1960 to 1981. Grant MacEwan, former Mayor of Calgary and Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, called Graham the "best journalist in Alberta". Dad was the first president of the Wildwood Community Association and loved living in Wildwood. He then helped form the Federation of Calgary Communities. He was also one of the founding members of the Anglican Church of the Good Shepherd. Dad was particularly proud of the Alberta Centennial Medal that he received in 2005. This was given in recognition of his war record and also for community service. Dad received a Bachelor of Education degree with Distinction in 1992. He then graduated with a Master's degree in History at the age of seventy-six. Dad was always physically active in jogging, playing tennis, cross-country and downhill skiing. He won several medals at the Alberta Seniors' Winter Games in cross-country skiing. He swam a mile each day at Wasa Lake when he camped near Cranbrook, BC. Dad enjoyed his yearly visits to Victoria. This past winter, he enjoyed visits to the Calgary Opera and Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. Dad also enjoyed his fitness classes at the Bowcliff Seniors' Center. He participated in the Physio-Cardio class at the U of C just before he passed away. The Smith Family would like to thank his caregivers: Suri and Marianna for their help for the past two years. A Memorial Service will be held at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 408 - 38 Street S.W., Calgary on Monday, July 27, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. with Reverend Kersi Bird officiating. Interment will be held at Eden Brook Memorial Gardens, 17 Avenue S.W. and Lower Springbank Road, Calgary, on Wednesday, July 29, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. If friends desire, donations can be made to the Nanton Air Museum, PO Box 1051, Nanton, Alberta, T0L 1R0. Dad was looking forward to attending this year's luncheon on August 15, 2009. PERSONAL ALTERNATIVE FUNERAL SERVICES 12 East Lake Way N.E., Airdrie, Alberta Telephone: 403-216-5111 and 403-912-0307.