Roland Smith

1933 - 2018

Roland Neal Smith was born May 16, 1933, in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, to Ernest Eugene Smith and Ruby Herndon Smith. He was the fourth of five children.

In his early years, he worked as a ranch hand: bucking hay, repairing fence, feeding and driving cattle. Roland graduated from Adams State College in Alamosa, Colorado, where he studied physics and math. It was there where he met, then married, the love of his life, Carla Lynn Crawford. Upon graduation, Roland enlisted in the Marine Corp, where he made the rank of captain, flying attack jets. Their daughter, Debra, Lynn was born off the El Toro Air Station in 1958.

Roland's two brothers, Gene and Robert, both worked at the National Reactor Testing Station and encouraged Roland to apply for a job in the exciting field of nuclear power production. Roland began work for Argonne National Laboratory as a research technician and then as a reactor operator. Soon after the move to Idaho Falls, they completed their family welcoming their son, Jeffrey Dean, in 1959.

In 1971, Roland completed a master's degree in business management from the University of Idaho. He received the Meritorious Performance in Operations Award from the American Nuclear Society for his excellence in operations management in 1985. Roland retired in 1998 as the associate division director for the EBR-II Division of Argonne.

He and Carla enjoyed traveling. They excelled at the art of hospitality hosting many from throughout the world. He was involved in the Episcopal Church at both the local and state level. The St. Luke's Smith Chapel is dedicated to their service.

Roland was an avid runner, climbed Mt. Borah, loved to water ski, enjoyed snow skiing and taught for years at Kelly Canyon. He was fascinated with the art of making beautiful and functional things from wood, a lifelong hobby and passion.

Carla and Roland were married for 52 years. She preceded him to heaven in 2008. The legacy of both their lives were their two grandchildren, Michael Brandon Green who married Brittney Carrington Green, and Kaitlyn Green with her fiance, Jayson Plummer.

Roland is survived by his two children, Debra Smith Green (fiance, Doug Harder) and Jeffrey Dean Smith (wife, Diana Salvucci Smith); Diana's two children: Robbie Salvucci (wife, Candace) with daughter Sierra and son Brock and Bre Salvucci with son Miles. He was preceded in death by his wife, Carla; his parents, Ernest and Ruby; two brothers, Eugene and Robert; and two sisters, Lee and Betty.

Grateful thanks are given to Nicole, director of the Memory Care Unit at MorningStar, and her loving staff. Appreciation also is sincerely extended to Hospice of Eastern Idaho, especially to his granddaughter, Kait.

The memorial service will be held Saturday, Aug. 25, at 10 a.m. at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 270 N. Placer Ave., Idaho Falls. Final arrangements were made through Buck Miller Hann Funeral Home. Online condolences can be left at www.buckmillerhann.com.