David W. Smith

David W Smith “Smitty”, 71, of Chino Valley, Arizona, passed away peacefully August 19, 2018 at the VA hospital in Prescott, Arizona, with his long time sweetheart, Carol Miller, at his side, after a long period of failing health.

 

Born in Dover, NH, David was the second of six children of Sydney E Smith and Margaret Tinker Smith.  He graduated from Somersworth High School in NH with the class of 1965. After graduation, David joined the Navy, where he became a Seabee construction engineer.  Following his basic training and AIT, he was shipped to Vietnam where he helped build and support forward combat bases for the Marines for almost two years.  He received numerous Navy commendations for his work and time served in Vietnam.  After leaving the Navy, he returned to Somersworth to work in his father’s transportation business as a mechanic and driver, also filling in wherever else needed. After the sale of the business, he worked for Lafayette Electronics and became an assistant manager at their Rochester, NH site.  During that time he also volunteered with the Boy Scouts and assisted with the instruction and field practice of winter camping with the Scouts.

 

David moved to Prescott, Arizona, then to central Wyoming.  He spent a couple of years working construction at the oil fields in Wyoming, perfecting the art of running a road grader, until an automobile accident left him paralyzed from the waist down.  Doctors told David that he would never walk again, however, after a long road of recovery and persistent determination; he regained limited mobility, walking with the assistance of Canadian crutches for the remainder of his life.

 

David returned to Arizona, settling in Chino Valley in the late 70’s, where he attended Yavapai College to learn a new skill of mechanical draftsman.  He started working for US Electrical Motors after college, which is where he met his sweetheart and life companion for the next 31 years, Carol Miller. When US Motors closed their Prescott location, he spent nine years as a draftsman for Sturm Ruger and Company, Inc.

 

David enjoyed staying active.  He was an avid shooter and experimented with a variety of cartridges, meticulously working on reloading for accuracy.  He and Carol enjoyed camping, often taking their camper out for impromptu weekend forays, walking places where many would have thought impossible, and put many miles on ATVs.  He also spent time with friends working on a variety of projects and fix-its.  His quick laugh, warm smile, twinkling eyes, storytelling talent, willingness to assist on any project, and his depth of knowledge in a wide range of subjects made him a pleasure to be around and work with. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

 

David is survived by his mother, Margaret Smith, of Eustis FL, brother Russ (Tanya) Smith, of Fort Collins, CO, sisters Marcia (Jay) Reaster and Kathleen (Glen) Freed, of Eustis, FL and Pamela (Robert) Charles of Berwick, ME, and his companion, Carol Miller, of Prescott, AZ.  He was predeceased by his father and a brother, Gary E Smith.
Services will be held Sunday, September 16, 2018 at 2:00 pm at the
Northern Arizona VA Chapel in Prescott, Arizona