Darrell F. Smith M.D.

1930 - 2016

Darrell F. Smith, M.D.
1930 ~ 2016
After a long and productive life, Darrell F. Smith, M.D. died Tuesday, July 5, 2016, anxious to get back to work and looking forward to exploring a wondrous new world with friends and family. His last weeks were spent surrounded by his family as he died peacefully of complications from Alzheimer's.
Darrell, born in Salt Lake City on December 20, 1930 to Franklin Richards Smith and Naoma Hollingworth Smith, was a grandson of Joseph F. and Sarah Ellen Smith and great-grandson of Hyrum Smith and Willard Richards Smith. He was preceded in death by his parents, younger sister, Janet Smith Nilson (D. Spencer) and older brothers, Richard, Chester and Robert.
Darrell graduated from East High and served an LDS mission to England, Scotland, and the Shetland Islands--a watershed experience that defined the rest of his life. After seven years at the University of Utah, he received his Doctorate of Medicine in 1957, fulfilling his lifelong dream of becoming a doctor after being inspired by his Uncle Silas Smith's removal of his tonsils when he was five. In 1955, Darrell married Joan Johnson of Preston, Idaho in the Salt Lake Temple, and after surgical training and service in the Army in San Francisco and Hawaii, the couple spent 40 years in Marin County, California in the San Francisco Bay Area where Darrell was an ophthalmologist in private practice. After retirement in 2003, they followed six of their seven children back to the Salt Lake Valley where they celebrated their Diamond Anniversary in 2015.
Darrell's church service included Stake Mission President, High Councilman, a mission to the Jewish people, and 25 years as a missionary to inmates at San Quentin State Prison where he also provided eye care for 30 years. Darrell was a counselor in a Bishopric, served as Bishop twice, and spent nine years serving in a Stake Presidency. He also found great satisfaction serving medical missions in Nigeria, Zimbabwe, El Salvador, Guatemala and briefly in Pakistan.
Darrell had an intense curiosity about many things. He was a consummate traveler, an avid reader, and a scuba diver of many oceans. He is survived by his wife, Joan and seven children: Leslie Joan Smith, Lenore Lillywhite (Todd), Natalie Taylor (John), Fielding Richards Smith, Daniel Franklin Smith, Melissa Smith and Sarah Ellen Smith (all residing in the Salt Lake valley except the Taylors of Thousand Oaks, CA) and ten grandchildren.
A viewing will be held Wednesday, July 13, 6-8 p.m. at Jenkins-Soffe Funeral Home, 4760 S. State St., Murray. Funeral services will be held Thursday, July 14, 11 a.m., at the Union Park Fifth Chapel at 7699 Chad St. (765 E.), Midvale. Friends and family may call at the church Thursday morning from 10-10:45 a.m. Interment: Salt Lake City Cemetery.
Our special thanks to Community Nursing Services for their loving support. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to LDS General Missionary Fund or Perpetual Education Fund, or a charity of your choice.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.jenkins-soffe.com.