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Max A Smith, 86, was born January 25, 1925 in Vermillion, Kansas to Leslie F. and Ferne A. Hybskmann Smith and died May 4, 2011. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Arlene Pierce Smith; daughters; Caroline Gilley and husband Terry, Christine Grinde, Elaine Prentice and husband Stephen; his son, Kent Smith and wife Karen; and his grandchildren, Marcus, Cheryl, Eric, Darrin, Daniel, Christopher, Stacey, seven great-grandchildren, and many other family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Warren and sister Lesley. Max graduated from Westmoreland Rural High School and after three years in the US Army during WW II, received a Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Kansas State University. Max and Arlene first met playing in the Kansas State marching band and were married in 1948. For their 50th wedding anniversary, they took their entire family of 18 on a cruise to Alaska. Even before graduation from Kansas State, Lew Kohlhaas hired Max as engineer for the Kohlhaas Tank and Equipment Company and he worked for them as engineer and vice president for 30 years, his entire working career. He was a registered professional engineer; was past Chairman of the New Mexico Section for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and a life member of that organization. He was also past president of the Purchasing Management Association of New Mexico, a life member and a Certified Purchasing Manager. He belonged to the Masonic Lodge, York Rite Bodies, Ballut Abyad Shrine, and Rotary club of Albuquerque, American Legion and the DAV. Max was also a member of the Chaparral Chapter of Family Motor Coach Association and the Los Altos and Old Timers golf associations. He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church for over 60 years and sang for years in the choir and played bells in the bell choir. He played trumpet his entire life, starting at age 10 and played in Shrine bands, Legion Post 13 bands and was leader of the Rotary Brass of the Rotary Club of Albuquerque. Max played in dance bands in college and was a member of the American Federation of Musicians. For years, he was "Your Friendly Information Person" on Saturday mornings at Presbyterian Hospital as a volunteer. On doctors' orders, in 1979, Max walked 3 miles every day and claimed to have walked around the world (24,000 miles) three miles at a time. He made a list of 400 towns and places and 12 countries where he had walked. Memorial contributions may be made to the Ballut Abyad Shrine Crippled Children's Fund 6600 Zuni Rd.SE or Trinity United Methodist Church 3715 Silver SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108. Friends may visit Friday 4:00-6:00 pm at French - Lomas location to greet the family. Services will be Saturday, 2:00 pm, May 7, 2011 at Trinity United Methodist Church. Burial services will take place Monday, 2:15 pm, May 9, 2011 at Santa Fe National Cemetery, 501 N Guadalupe St, Santa Fe, NM. Please visit our online guestbook for Max at RememberTheirStory.com Lovingly Pre-planned at FRENCH 10500 Lomas Blvd. NE (505) 275-3500
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