OBITUARY: Dale Smith

Dale Smith
May 4, 1935 – Dec. 24, 2009

Dale M. Smith, 74, passed away Christmas Eve morning in Socorro, New Mexico, after a short bout with pneumonia. He was born in Albert City, Iowa, on May 4, 1935.
Dale was preceded in death by his father, Harold T. Smith; his mother, Edith Smith; and his brother, Harold Smith Jr.
Dale is survived by his wife of 23 years, Nancy; and son Will Smith, both of Lemitar.
Other survivors include two sons: Mark Smith and wife Debbie of San Antonio, Tex., and Gary Smith and wife Michelle of Omaha, Neb.; Four daughters: Laureen Stephenson of Council Bluffs, Ia., Dawn Cunningham and husband Paul of Omaha, Karen Curtis and husband Kevin of Lincoln, Ia., and Jackie Clark and husband Michael of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.; and 17 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
He is also survived by four sisters: Carol Dyer and husband Duane of Upland, Calif., Shirley Samuels of Vallejo, Calif., Evelyn Waltenbaugh and husband Gary of Portland, Ore., and Lilly Watters and husband Curt of Santa Rosa, Calif.;
Stepchildren Rheinhold Schmitt and wife Heather of Latrobe, Penn., and Shiloh Schmitt of Greensburg, Penn.; and three grand-stepchildren.
Dale was a career serviceman in the United States Air Force, and retired after 27½ years as a Senior Master Sergeant. He served in Vietnam at Pleiku Air Base as a radio specialist.
Dale spent the last six years employed by the Mountain Mail, driving to Albuquerque every week to pick up the week’s newspaper at the printer, and bring it back to Socorro. He also delivered the paper to various locations in Socorro.
He was known by all who knew him as a warm and good-natured friend, ready to laugh and tell stories.
Dale was an avid collector of classic Hudson automobiles, and drove his ’52 Hudson in parades in Socorro and Magdalena.
He was a member of the Hudson-Essex-Terraplane national car club in the Zia Chapter, based in Albuquerque, and the Western Reserve Chapter in western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio.
He was also a member of the Socorro Old Car Club, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, DAV, Retired Enlisted Association, and the Air Force Association.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 30, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Socorro. Arrangements were under the care of Steadman-Hall Funeral Home in Socorro. The family asks that donations be made to the American Cancer Society

OBITUARY: Dale Smith