Donald Smith

Donald LeRoy Smith, born November 29, 1945, in Houston, TX, to Donald Minor and June Fayrene (Norton) Smith, passed away August 18, 2022, at the age of 76 years.

Don was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  He was sealed for time and all eternity to Marilynn Diana Leibowitz on November 21, 1970 in the Idaho Falls temple. He had a distinguished military career rising through the ranks, making it from E3 to O3 the hard way, with seamless service in the Navy and then Coast Guard. He retired in 1988 as a Lieutenant.  Don was a patriot who loved his country and served with gratitude.

Early in his life Don became a licensed ham radio operator and was an expert at morse code. Don has served in emergency communications and as SEC, ran the communications for the State of Louisiana during hurricane season, and worked many disasters in various states. He served as a member of the ARRL, MARS, ARES, RACES and the Utah County Sheriff’s SCAT team as well as TERT (Timpanogos Emergency Rescue Team).  Callsign “K7VN '' has fallen silent. We now say “73’s” to this silent key.

Don was an avid outdoorsman and a master navigator. He taught and shared his skills with many young men’s organizations including serving as a Scout Master more than once for various Boy Scout troops. His adventurous soul took him on many canoe trips, down rivers and through many of the backwaters of Louisiana.

Don was an expert pistol shot and loved taking cross country motorcycle trips. He always had a love and fascination with wildlife and nature.

Don loved his family.  He is survived by his daughter, Inez Bassett and husband, Carl, his son Aaron Smith and wife Megan; son, David Smith, daughter, Heather Bennett and husband Devan; daughter Jeannette Smith; sisters, Deborah Collins, and Linda McGinnis and husband, Sid; and 18 grandchildren (the youngest having been born May 4th).  He is survived by many other relatives and friends. Don has gone home.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Marilynn Diana Smith; mother, June Smith; father, Donald M. Smith; and sister, Sandra Javier.

Funeral services for Don will be held Monday the 29th – Viewing takes place from 9:30 am to 10:30 am and funeral service will start at 11:00 am at Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary 495 South State St., Orem UT.

Condolences for the family may be expressed on this page.