Edward A. Smith

1931 - 2025

Edward (Ted) A Smith

October 5, 1931 - May 14, 2025

Edward A. (Ted) Smith passed away peacefully in Boise, Idaho on May 14, 2025, surrounded by his family.

Ted was born October 5, 1931, in Burley, Idaho to Joseph and Ellen Shaffer Smith. He attended schools in Burley and graduated from Burley High School in 1950. While in high school, he lettered in basketball, football, and baseball and served as senior class president.

In August of 1951 he was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War and took basic training at Camp Roberts, California. While in basic training Ted and his good friend Virgil Temple enlisted in the Airborne. After basic training, Ted was transferred to Fort Benning, Georgia for paratrooper training and successfully completed the course and received his paratrooper wings. He was then transferred to the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. While at Fort Bragg, Ted participated in a record jump that was covered by Life Magazine. It was the biggest troop drop from the smallest number of planes in the shortest time in aviation history. 1008 paratroopers jumped from only nine C-124 Globemaster planes. Ted also took pride that he marched in the inaugural parade for President Eisenhower.

He was honorably discharged from the service in August of 1953 and returned to his home in Burley.

Ted met Rae Munson, and they were married June 16, 1955 in the Burley United Methodist Church. They had two children, a son Kent and a daughter Shelley.

Ted worked at the J.R. Simplot Company for 22 years and retired in 1994. He served on the Burley City Council for one term, until Rae and Ted built Sweetheart Manor in 1973. They owned and operated the business for 34 years. He was a member of the Burley Lions Club for 59 years and served as the president of the club in 1973. He was honored in 2004 with the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award, the highest form of recognition given by Lions Club International.

Ted enjoyed watching sporting events. His favorite was March Madness, the NCAA Basketball Tournament.

The most cherished in Ted's life was his family and his friends.

Ted's parents, two sisters Ruth Garrard and Veda Vaughn and two brothers, Dale and Don, precede him in death. Ted is survived by his wife Rae of 70 years; his son Kent (Tami) Smith, and daughter Shelley (Rod) Gates; grandsons Brad (Brooke) Smith and Scott Smith; granddaughter Jill (Dan) Moore; and four great granddaughters Vivienne and Juliette Smith, Madalena and Claire Moore.

A celebration of life will be held in Ted's honor at The Burley Inn in Burley, Idaho on Saturday, July 19th from 1:00 4:00 p.m.

In lieu of followers, please feel free to make a memorial donation in Ted's name to the Burley High School Boys and Girls Athletics Department c/o Amy Hill, 2100 Parke Ave, Burley, ID 83318.