|
Clifford Alvin Smith, 87, died at home Tuesday, August 12, 2008. Clifford was born April 4, 1921 to Lester V. and Helen (Weatherwax) Smith. He was born near Valley, Stevens County, WA. He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Neill. He is survived by his wife Jean; sons, Brian and Bruce; and three grandchildren, Trevor (Sara), Gavin (Tiffany), and Kelsa. Clifford graduated in 1939 from North Central High School in Spokane, WA, where he played football, golf, swam, played in the band, and was manager of the basketball team. He started at the Eastern Washington College of Education, where he was on the swimming and golf teams. He transferred to the University of Washington, where he graduated on March 1, 1944, and was commissioned an Ensign and married on the same day. The USS Princeton left Honolulu May 19, 1944 and participated in many engagements as it traveled through the Marshall Islands, Mariana Islands, Okinawa, and Formosa before reaching Layte Gulf in the Philippines. It was sunk at Layte Gulf on October 24, 1944. After recovery in San Diego, he returned to the Pacific on USS Sibonney. Clifford was recalled to active duty in 1950 and was transferred to the Atomic Weapons project in Albuquerque. At the end of the Korean Conflict, he transferred to the Navy Ready Reserves until 1964. He went to work at Sandia Labs in 1953 and in 1956 he went to work for the Naval Ordinance Test Station (NOTS) at China Lake California. He retired from the Naval Weapons Evaluation Facility in Albuquerque in 1980. He joined the New Mexico State Guard in 1977 and retired in 1990 as a Major General. Clifford was always active in the community. He was active in the Boy Scouts for 70 years, as a Scoutmaster, District Commissioner, a member of the Camping Committee, a Woodbadge Scoutmaster at Philmont, and staff at National and World Jamborees. He was honored with the District Award of Merit in 1968, and the Silver Beaver in 1977 and Order of the Arrow Vigil. He volunteered with the IRS VITA program, and was a member of the Computer Society and the Genealogy Society. Clifford and Jean belonged to the MOAA ski club and skied until they were 80. They enjoyed traveling and have taken automobile trips around the United States and cruises in the Caribbean, Alaska, and around through the Panama Canal. (Memorial) Services will be held Tuesday, August 19, 2008, at 11:00 a.m., at French Mortuary, Wyoming Blvd. Chapel. Interment will take place at a later date at Santa Fe National Cemetery. French Mortuary, Inc. 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE (505) 823-9400 www.frenchmortuary.com
|
