Albon Smith

Click Here To View Memorial Video Albon Llewellyn Smith was born fourth in a family of eleven children to David Smith and Emily Hancock Smith on August 11, 1919. He lived his whole life right here in his beloved Idaho Falls, Idaho, until he passed away at home on July 17, 2013, just shy of his 94th birthday. He was blessed to leave this world with his beloved companion of 67 years, Mary Elizabeth Hansen, curled up next to him and the room packed with loved ones from both heaven and earth. What a full and exciting life he has lived! He served an LDS mission to Germany and the Eastern States, was captain of a trucking company in the Army Air Corps during World War II, and came home to fall in love-at-first-sight with his sweetheart, whom he married on May 31, 1946 in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple. He took on the task of raising ten children, built the Smith Chevrolet car company from the ground up with his father, played bassoon in the Idaho Falls Symphony for 23 years, was active in Scouting (serving as President of the Teton Peaks Council, earning the Silver Beaver award, and leading some 17 sons and grandsons to be Eagle Scouts), was very involved in genealogy, and served in numerous church positions (including stake missionary, bishop, high councilor, and as a missionary with Mary in the London England Mission). He filled any gaps with riding Arabian horses with his family, reading Louis L’Amour novels, and getting us to watch a good “ripsnortin” Western movie with him. Albon and Mary’s posterity has grown to 172 so far, including 59 grandchildren and 66 great-grandchildren, with three on the way. We know he will be watching out for us all as keenly in death as he did in life. We thank Daddy for many gifts: first and foremost for our love of our Heavenly Father, our Savior Jesus Christ and the Good News of the Gospel; for giving us living proof that “in love” really can last forever; that like our dad, we cannot lift our eyes to Old Glory without a surge of tender emotion; that great music has found a home somewhere deep within our souls; that through his “20-minute jobs,” he passed on to us his extraordinary capacity for work; for showing us that one can stand alone against the fiercest of winds; for childhoods jam-packed with reasons to smile; for countless examples of simple faith in action, allowing us to witness miracles; for showing us that with vision, great things can be accomplished against impossible odds; that popping off funnies can get you through just about anything, including his exit from this world; for his belief that his warm gloves were always more needed on someone else’s hands; for his unwillingness to hold a grudge and his willingness to keep his hand open wide because “it’s all the Lord’s, anyway”; and for leaving us without a doubt that he dearly loved each one of us. We, his posterity, pledge in gratitude that we will stand on his broad and remarkable shoulders and keep on building, because that’s what he would do. Surviving are: Wife, Mary Hansen Smith of Idaho Falls, ID; Daughter, Catherine (Jud) Miller of Rigby, ID; Son, Damian C. (Paula) Smith of Salt Lake City, UT; Son, Stafford L. (Shelly) Smith of Idaho Falls, ID; Daughter, Claudia (Randall) King of Idaho Falls, ID; Daughter, Shirley L. Smith of Menan, ID; Son, Woodruff D. (Dawn) Smith of Rexburg, ID; Daughter: Heather (Andre) Linchenko of Idaho Falls, ID; Son, Nathan W. (Kimberly) Smith of Idaho Falls, ID; Son, Cameron W. (Honica) Smith of Idaho Falls, ID; Sister, Rayola Wanlass of Idaho Falls, ID; Sister, LaPrele (Ron) Pond of Idaho Falls, ID; Sister, JoAnn (Wilford) Ruf of Fountain Green, UT; He was preceded in death by his parents; a beloved son, Albon Llewellyn Smith, Jr.; a stillborn daughter, Emily Marian; three brothers: Harlin, Dale, and McKay; and four sisters: Esther Stosich, Lorraine Wilkinson, Carol Thompson, and Jeanne Ellis. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, July 22, 2013, at the Iona LDS Stake Center, 7555 East 55th North, with Bishop Brandon Anderson of the Iona 3rd Ward officiating. The family will visit with friends on Sunday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Wood Funeral Home East Side, 963 South Ammon Road, and on Monday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the stake center. Military Rites will be performed by the Bonneville County Veterans Memorial Team and Idaho Honor Guard, with burial in Fielding Memorial Park.

Funeral Services -- Monday

11:00 a.m. ,Monday, July 22, 2013 Iona LDS Stake Center 7555 North 55 East Idaho Falls, ID 83401 Notes: The family will visit with friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Sunday at Wood Funeral Home East Side, 963 South Ammon Road, and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Monday at the church. Burial in Fielding Memorial Park.