Emmett W. Smith Sr. died July 26, 2004, in Gilroy.
Emmett W. Smith Sr. died July 26, 2004, in Gilroy.
He was born 78 years ago in Drew County, Arkansas.
Mr. Smith was a Morgan Hill resident since 1959. He was a masonry contractor and generously donated his time and skills to various projects throughout the community.
He was an Army Air Force veteran of WWII. He was stationed on the Air Force repair ship Brigadier General Alfred J. Lyon as a high speed radio operator in the South Pacific. When needed he also served in the Thirteenth Air Force, flying missions over Borneo and Japan delivering medical supplies after the atomic bomb was dropped.
Mr. Smith is the Past Master of the Morgan Hill Masonic Lodge, Past Grand Bible Bearer of the Grand Masonic Lodge of California, Past Patron of Manzanita Chapter OES, member of Gilroy Masonic Lodge, member Magnolia Chapter OES, Veterans of Foreign Wars of Gilroy and Sons of the American Revolution.
Mr. Smith is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Marion Smith of Morgan Hill. He is the father of Emmett W. Smith Jr. of Larkspur, Marion Kathleen Smith of Morgan Hill, Eva Susanne and her husband David Pribyl Sr. of Gilroy, and Kirsten Tindall Smith and her husband Eric Olson, both of Morgan Hill. Mr. Smith has six grandchildren, Janelle Renee, Christopher Adam, Laura Darlene, James Mitchell, David Warren and Brian Webster. Noah Emmett is his only great-grandchild. He is also survived by a sister Ludie Mae Bradford of Washington, Illinois and many nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be held at 3 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 1, 2004, at the Gilroy Masonic Lodge.
Donations to the Masonic Home for Children c/o Grand Lodge of California, 1111 California Street, San Francisco, CA 94108 in Mr. Smith’s memory are preferred and appreciated.
