Col. Gilbert G. Smith Jr.

GILBERT G. SMITH, JR., COL. USAF RET.
December 12, 1918 - November 17, 2006

Col. Smith went to be with the Lord on November 17, 2006. Gilbert, aged 87, died at home in Corvallis, Oregon, surrounded by family.
He was born in Topeka, Kansas on December 12, 1918. He attended Olathe High School in Olathe, Kansas, and graduated from Dunlap High School in Dunlap, Illinois. He also graduated from Western Illinois University, Macomb, Illinois. In 1941 he married the late Lois Naomi (Schisler) Smith of Macomb, Illinois. The couple had two sons, Gilbert III and Charles.
Col. Smith began his military career in 1940 when he entered pilot training at Muskogee, Oklahoma. He received his commission after completion of Aviation Cadet Training in August, 1941. During World War II he served in the Pacific Theater of Operations as a B-25 and B-26 Pilot, completing 50 combat missions with 200 combat hours. He also served overseas in Alaska, Japan and Hawaii. Throughout his military service, Col. Smith gave faithful and conscientious service to his country. His standard of conduct and leadership provided an excellent example for those associated with him. His medals include the Legion of Merit with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal and the Air Force Commendation Medal. In 1969 he was inducted into the Order of the Sword. He retired in 1970 as a full Colonel with over 7,000 hours of flying time.
After retiring from the Air Force, Gilbert returned to Macomb, Illinois to earn a masters degree in Industrial Engineering. From there, he and his wife Lois moved to Nashville, Tennessee where he worked for the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, and was part owner of the Nashville Speedway, a NASCAR race track. In 1985, Gilbert and Lois moved to Santa Maria, California, where Lois passed away.
On December 30, 1988 Gilbert married Doris (Harder) Schwindler of Santa Maria, California. In Santa Maria, Gilbert was active in volunteer work through First Christian Church, the Vandenberg AFB pharmacy, the Air Museum, and coordinating the AARP Tax Preparation for the Elderly program each year. In March 2005, Gilbert and Doris moved to Corvallis, Oregon to be near his sons and their families.
Gilbert is preceded in death by his sister Virginia Reiner and his brother Foster. Gilbert is survived by his wife Doris, his sister Nadine Cardello and her husband Joe, his sister-in-law Shirley, his sons Gilbert and Charles of Corvallis, Oregon, his daughters-in-law Sharyn and Karen, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Gilbert's legacy to his family is a strong love and loyalty to family, a life of faithfulness, hard work, service, humor, integrity, courage and faith in Christ. May we follow in his good footsteps.
"This mighty oak has fallen,
But his legacy still grows
From the tiny little acorns
That all of us still sow."
Shaw
A funeral service will be held Friday, December 1, 2006 at 12:00 noon at the First Christian Church with Rev. Clete Doyal and Dr. Charles Gibbs officiating. Burial will follow with full military honors at Santa Maria Cemetery.
The family suggests that memorial contributions be made in Gilbert's name to the First Christian Church Building Fund, 1550 South College Dr., Santa Maria, CA 93454 or Marian Hospice, 504 E. Plaza Dr., Santa Maria, CA 93454.
Arrangements are under the direction of Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary and Crematory.
Dudley-Hoffman
Mortuary & Crematory
(805) 922-8463