Lester Smith

Ocean Park resident Lester F. Smith, 99, died December 2, 2011 at a local care center with his family at his side. The son of Willard and Sylvia (Fairbanks) Smith, he was born June 20, 1912 in Carlsbad, New Mexico. The family later moved to Glide, Oregon where Lester grew up and graduated from high school. He attended Clark College in Vancouver where he learned the drafting trade. It was in Glide that Lester met Dorothy Fox and they were married June 29, 1940 at Central Christian Church in Portland. The couple recently celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary, and they were featured in an story in The Observer just last month. Lester was employed as a draftsman and lay-out man for American Pipe in Portland for over forty years and was a member of the Boilermakers union. He and Dorothy lived in Portland from 1940 until 1947 when they moved to a five acre farm in Vancouver where they lived for 35 years. They and their children raised numerous animals along with strawberries and raspberries on the farm. In 1982 retirement brought the couple to the Peninsula. Dorothy and Les were best friends and avid dancers over the years, being members of square dance groups both in Vancouver and on the Peninsula. Together they enjoyed many adventures and trips, especially enjoying New Zealand, Austria and Switzerland. Les kept busy with numerous projects and hobbies including stained glass, wood carving, gardening and flowers, taking pride in his roses and in past years was a member of the Mazamas, a mountaineering club in Portland. Les was a fan of the author Robert Service having visited his cabin in Alaska and recited from memory "Hard Luck Henry", "The Shooting of Dan McGrew" and the "Cremation of Sam McGee" among others. Les also read Shakespeare, the Bible and enjoyed country western music. Les lived a full and adventuresome life, blessed with a devoted wife and loving family. Besides his wife, Les is survived by son Eugene (Jerry) Smith of Long Beach; daughter Sheryl Richards of Fox Island, WA; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and twenty-one great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by five siblings . A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, December 10, 2011, 1:00 PM at the Peninsula Senior Center in Klipsan Beach where Les and Dorothy were active members. His guestbook is available at www.penttilaschapel.c