Smith Sr._Wallace Edgar_9 Aug 1920

Funeral Tuesday for Wallace E. Smith, 53

Funeral services were conducted at Malad Second LDS Ward Chapel Tuesday for Wallace Edgar Smith Sr., age 53, who died Saturday after a long illness.

Bishop W. Gordon Crowther officiated and read the obituary. Speakers were Khalil Scott and President Devere Harris. Family prayer was offered by Berthel Crowther, invocation by Wayne Kent, and benediction by Ralph Burton. Carolyn Ward, accompanied by Myra Jean John, sang a solo. Prelude and postlude music was played by Betty H. Crowther.

Burial was in St. John Cemetery where W. L. Baker offered the dedicatory prayer.

Flowers were cared for by members of Second Ward Relief Society, Florence Hubbard, president.

Members of the High Priest Quorum acted as honorary bearers. Casket bearers were Terry Burns, Kevin Crowther, Barry Crowther, Ross Poore, Kim Crowther and Dwane Jones.

Funeral arrangements were by Benson Funeral Home.

Mr. Smith was born Aug. 9, 1920, at St. John, the son of Burnett (Pat) and Mina Martha Newhouse Smith. He was graduated from Malad High School in 1938 where he was the first recipient of the Bausch & Lomb honorary science award. He was graduated from Aero Industries Technical Institute, Glendale, Calif., as a master aircraft mechanic in 1940.

Mr. Smith worked at Douglas Aircraft Co., Santa Monica, and Northrup Aircraft Co. Hawthorne, Calif. During this time he learned to pilot a plane. He also played violin in Huntington Park Symphony Orchestra.

He was aeronautics instructor at Utah State Agriculture College (USU), Logan, in 1940, and also was aeronautics instructor at Burley High School; at Aero ITI, Glendale; University of Idaho. Southern Branch (ISU), Pocatello; and at Pocatello Air Base during World War II. He served in the US Army for a short time.

On May 17, 1941, he married Marie Justesen at Malad. The marriage was solemnized in the Logan LDS Temple Oct, 28, 1948.

He received an aircraft mechanic and aircraft ground in-instructor(sic) certificate from US Federal Aviation Agency in 1941. He served as training officer for Civil Air Patrol units at Pocatello and Burley while teaching there. In 1946, he received his aircraft powerplant mechanic certificate at Twin Falls while working for Reeder Flying Service. He was also chief mechanic at Bennett Flying Service, Pocatello, in 1943.

The family moved back to Malad in 1946. Mr. Smith opened a sporting goods and electronic repair service, operating the business until 1952 when he joined the Idaho Enterprise staff as a typesetter, printer and maintenance man.

In 1963, he resumed designing and construction of a small experimental airplane he had begun while teaching at Pocatello. The plane is not completed.

He was a member and past president of Oneida Fliers, Inc.

Mr. Smith received his private glider pilot certificate at Heber, Utah, in September, 1971. He was Malad City Airport manager for five years and also served a three-year term as trustee of Oneida School District.

Active in the LDS Church, he was a High Priest in Malad Second Ward where he had also served as ward clerk. He also served as scoutmaster, superintendent of Junior Sunday school, and secretary of Malad Stake Ward Teaching committee.

Surviving are his widow; two sons, Wallace E. Jr., Pueblo, Colo.; Robert B. Cupertino, Calif.; three daughters, Mrs. Dennis (Patti) Fairbourne, Portland, Ore.; Mrs. Michael (Marlene) Doster and Marilyn, both of Logan; mother, Mrs. Pete Thomas, Malad; two grandchildren; three sisters, Mrs. Odell (Eve) Burns, Bountiful; Mrs. George (Mina) Tegnell, Las Vegas; Mrs. Elmer (Nadine) Peters, Tremonton.