Ronald Peter SMITH M.D.

Our beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother passed away peacefully on Thursday afternoon, September 7, 2023, in Spokane, Washington, after battling sepsis.

Ron was born to Raymond Peter and Helen Frances (Ferschweiller) on July 10, 1934 in Newberg, Oregon, the oldest of their seven children. He grew up in St. Paul, Oregon, attending St. Paul High School, then his final two years at Mount Angel Seminary high school. Deciding not to pursue the priesthood, he attended Gonzaga University as a first-generation college student, studying pre-med for three years. He completed his fourth year of pre-med concurrently with his first year of medical school at University of Oregon, graduating with his MD in 1959.

While at St. Louis University during his first year of surgical residency, he met a beautiful young nurse at the hospital and they married within the year on July 8, 1961 in Davenport, Iowa. He immediately whisked Margaret off to Verdun, France, courtesy of the US Army, serving as a Captain in Verdun, France in general surgery. They added a LOT of miles to their little Peugeot travelling all over Europe in their free time.

Returning home to the US, he finished the rest of his medical residency in Los Angeles in pathology and he became the 5th doctor to join a very young pathology practice, Pathology Associates, in Spokane in 1967 (known as Incyte today). A year later, he became a partner in their early-stage clinical medical laboratory startup, Pathology Associates Medical Laboratories (PAML – now owned by LabCorp) until his retirement in 1994. During his career, he also served as President of the Medical Staff at Holy Family Hospital (1989) and on the Dominican Board of Directors that operated Holy Family Hospital (1988-1992).

Ron and Margaret welcomed their first daughter, Julie, while in France, adding daughters Michele and Sara in Los Angeles, and sons Ryan and Perren once settled in Spokane. They had 47 adventure-filled years together until she died in 2009. They enjoyed many years of snow skiing, golfing, and travel with their children and friends, and created immeasurable memories at their lake house in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and their retirement home in LaQuinta, California. Ron was tireless and enthusiastic with his children and grandchildren, spending countless hours perfecting their boat driving skills, waterski signals, snow ski techniques, golf cart driving, or giving family piano concerts on request.

After Margaret's death, Dad continued many bucket-list adventures, including trips to the U.S. Open and The Masters with his brother, salmon fishing with his medical school classmate, and continually tinkering with his golf swing at Manito GCC.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and his brothers Philip and Stephen. He is survived by three daughters and their husbands: Julie and Dan Tylman, Michele Cassinelli, Sara and Ken Troyer; two sons and their wives, Ryan and Jamie Smith, and Perren and Rebecca Smith; 12 grandchildren, Theo Tylman, Alice Ruttum, Karin Waber, Elizabeth Behrens, David and Michael Troyer, Kayla Davis, Rudi Irby, Tristen Womack, Austin, Tyler and Jesse Smith; 2 brothers, George and Greg Smith, 2 sisters, Loraine Flatters and Mary Sue Erhardt; in-laws, various outlaws, numerous nieces, nephews and 4 great-grandchildren.

As a generous donor to many educational and Catholic charities, memorial contributions can be made in his name to All Saints Catholic School, Gonzaga Prep, Gonzaga University or St. Peter's Catholic Church. Ron's family would like to thank the fantastic staff at Touchmark for their kind and attentive support in his final 2 years.

A life-long Catholic, he was devoted to his faith and had been a parishioner at St. Peter's church since 1967. A rosary service will be held at 10 am Friday, September 15th, followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 am at St. Peter Catholic Church, 3520 East 18th Spokane, WA 99223, followed by a reception in the church hall. Ron will be entombed at Holy Cross Cemetery mausoleum. Online memorial page can be found at www.holycrossofspokane.org.