Donald Monroe Smith's Obituary
Donald (Don) Monroe Smith, 95, died Saturday, March 11, 2017 at the Larsen Pavilion at Shell Point in Ft Myers following an extended illness.He leaves his wife of 70 years, June (Bedford) Smith; his two sons, Donald Jr. and Bradley; his daughter, Deborah Tabor; two grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and close friends.Born in Berwick, PA, the son of John and Della Mae (Klase) Smith, he was a resident of Pennsylvania during his working years and spent 35 retired years with his wife in Ft. Myers.In his early years, Mr. Smith worked on the family farm near Danville, PA and also developed an aptitude for electronics and radios. After graduating from Berwick High School in 1940, he enlisted in the US Army and studied at the Army Signal training school in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. Don was then assigned to the Army’s 25th Signal Corp and deployed to Wheeler Field near Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Don survived the fury of the December 7, 1941 attack on US air and navy forces in Hawaii, including the destruction of 54 fighter planes at Wheeler field. He was awarded the World War II Victory medal and campaign stars for service in the battles of Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal, New Georgia and the Philippines. After completing his five-year tour of duty in the Pacific, Don returned to the US and began employment with the Bell Telephone Company of Pennsylvania in Williamsport PA. He also met and married the love of his life, June Louise Bedford, in Williamsport on June 28, 1946.Mr. Smith worked his way through the ranks in Bell of PA from “pole climber”, to trainer, manager and finally Senior Engineer. This advancement required moves to different PA towns including Williamsport, Bloomsburg, Ashland, Lehighton, Camp Hill and Berwyn. Don’s final career move came in 1977-1979 when he joined American Bell International and was assigned, with his wife June, to Tehran, Iran. He traveled throughout Iran helping install a modern telephone system for the government of the Shah of Iran. Unfortunately, this interesting work ended with the Iranian Revolution and takeover by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini on February 11, 1979. Don escaped the country that day via a US Air Force transport plane.After serving in Iran, Don returned home and retired, toured around the world with June, and settled in Tunkhannock PA and Ft Myers, FL. Later, in 1995, Don and June made their home in Shell Point Village near Ft. Myers and spent 15 active and joyful years in the community and Shell Point Village Church.Mr. and Mrs. Smith enjoyed the outdoors and especially hiking in the mountains during summer-long trips to visit their daughter, Deborah and granddaughter Lindsey, in Boone NC. Don was also active in the church choir and an avid gardener, woodworker, chair cainer and all around “Mr. Fixit”.A memorial service was held March 11 at the Shell Point Village Church with private burial. Please send donations in Don’s name to the Hope Hospice at Shell Point.To share a story, leave a tribute or to offer condolences to the family at this difficult time please visit Donald’s memorial webpage at www.fortmyersmemorial.com and sign his guestbook.
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