Obituary: Smith, Earl Leroy

SMITH,
Earl Leroy
(Age 94)

Passed away on Thursday, February 23, 2012 in Post Falls, ID.

Earl was born in Chicago, Illinois in May 1917.

His family moved to Little Fork, Minnesota where he grew up.

As a young man, he moved to Alaska and worked in the mining and logging industry until 1941 when he joined the U.S. Army Air Corp.

He was stationed in Jackson, Mississippi as a flight engineer on B-25 Mitchell bombers.

There he met his wife, Grace Harper and they were married in September of 1944.

After the war, they moved to Memphis, Tennessee where Earl earned his certifications as an aircraft mechanic.

He worked for Chicago and Southern Airlines until its merger with Delta Airlines in 1954.

With their two daughters, Grace and Earl moved to Grapevine, Texas where Earl continued to work for Delta airlines until his retirement in 1982.

They then moved to Athens, Texas where they lived on a small farm until 2004 when they moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho to be near family.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Grace Smith and his mother, Christina Hansen Smith of Little Fork, Minnesota, his father, Carl Smith from Twin Lakes, his brothers Kenny Smith of Rathdrum, Idaho and Clyde Smith of Whitefish, Montana, and his sisters, Dorothy Swope of Spokane, Washington and Erma Baeth of Libby, Montana.

He is survived by his sister, Lucy Roth and his daughter and son-in-law Judith and Carl George from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and his daughter, Janice Smith from Evergreen, Colorado.

The family wishes to thank the staff and nurses at the Bridge at Post Falls and Hospice of North Idaho for their loving and compassionate care.

Their unfailing support and kindness were most appreciated.
A private family celebration will be held in the home of Judith and Carl George.

Please sign his on-line guest book at LAKEVIEW FUNERAL HOME www.lakeviewfuneral.com. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Earl’s favorite charities Disabled American Veterans, Salvation Army, or Hospice of North Idaho.