Vance M. Smith
April 25, 1922 - July 30, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008 3:16 PM PDT
La Verne, Calif.
Vance M. Smith, formally of Nyssa, passed away peacefully Wednesday, July 30, 2008, in his La Verne, Calif., home where he lived for the last 42 years. He was born April 25, 1922, in Lucas, Kan., to Wyatt and June Smith.
He moved with his family and several close relatives to a new farm seven miles southwest of Nyssa in the fall of 1935. He graduated from Nyssa High School in 1941 where he was president of his senior class.
He was employed by Consolidated Aircraft Company as a draftsman in the engineering department in 1942, fulfilling his dream of working with airplanes.
About 1950, he was selected to move to a new facility in Pomona, Calif., that was built to design and manufacture guided missiles. He was now an electronic packaging design engineer and was instrumental in developing advanced techniques required to build guided missiles.
He progressed into middle management in the engineering department until he took early retirement in 1979.
After retirement, he enjoyed woodworking, making beautiful furniture for their home and growing beautiful roses.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife, Athalia, who died in 1984.
He is survived by his wife, Virginia, whom he met and married in 1986. He is also survived by stepchildren, Gayle Foster-Bostic, of Upland, Calif., and her husband, David, and Tom Foster, of Santiago, Chile; his three brothers and sisters-in-law, Wilbur and Irene of La Grande, Ore., Melvin and Sandra and Walter and Lillie, of Emmett; as well as many nieces, nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.
He was a very loving and caring man with a big heart who loved his family and friends. He will be missed by all who knew him. He was best described as an amazing man and an incredible person.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008, at the First Baptist Church, 126 S. Hayes, on the corner of East First Street, in Emmett, with refreshments to follow.
