Archie Duane Smith's Obituary
Archie Duane Smith, age 87, of Provo, died of natural causes at his home on January 16, 2019.
Archie was born September 24, 1931 in Garfield, Utah to Ruth Isabella Brown and Archie Ray Smith. He was the youngest of 6 children.
In 1948, Archie enlisted in the United States Navy and served for the next four years on multiple Pacific deployments including two years of combat action in Korea.
After an honorable discharge in 1952, Archie started work as an aide at the Veterans Administration hospital. It was there that he met Barbara Jean Christensen, who he described as “a blond, angelic, goddess-like nurse in crisp white.” They began dating shortly after and were married July 2, 1953 in Spanish Fork, Utah. Together they had three children, one girl and two boys. Archie and Barbara were sealed together and to their children in the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in November 1966.
In 1957, Archie earned a dual degree in Geology and Mathematics from Brigham Young University. A year later, he returned to active duty in the Navy as an officer, where he remained until his retirement in 1976, by which time he had achieved the rank of Lieutenant Commander. Along with his family, he was stationed alternately in Hawaii and California, as well as in Okinawa, Japan where he served as Port Commander during the reversion of Okinawa to Japanese control. A great lover of sports, he coached football for junior varsity in Okinawa for several years, which later inspired him to earn his secondary teaching certificate to teach math and be a coach after his retirement from the Navy. Also while in Okinawa, Archie trained in judo, earning his black belt.
Archie’s service in the Navy included work as Propulsions Officer on the Bureau of Naval Weapons, Special Projects Office at Lockheed Missile and Space Company. He also served two tours of duty in Vietnam. After his retirement from the Navy, Archie earned certification to teach in secondary education. He then worked 12 years for the Utah Geological and Mineral Survey in various leadership positions until his retirement in 1989. During this time he authored numerous publications as well as returning to school and earning a Master of Public Administration degree from Brigham Young University in 1983.
From December 1996 to June 1998, Archie and Barbara served as a proselytizing senior missionary couple for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Scotland. From 2004 to 2016 Archie enjoyed serving as an ordinance worker in the Provo Temple of the Church, and continued his service as long as his health allowed.
Archie was well-known for his prodigious yearly vegetable garden. He kept busy from early spring to late fall planting and tending all his vegetables as well as numerous fruit trees and berry bushes. Barbara kept busy every summer canning what produce they could use throughout the year, and family, friends, and neighbors enjoyed the excess.
Archie is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Ernest, Harold, Heber, and Alden Smith, his sister, Lucile Smith Wardle, and grandson Andrew Tata. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Barbara Jean Christensen, his daughter Brenda (Giovanni) Tata, his sons Kalen Sidney and Micah Shaun Smith, grandchildren Elizabeth (Richard) Graham, Katherine (Adam) Christensen, Margaret (Melvin) Rodriguez, Michael Tata, Hannah Tata, and ten great-grandchildren, Joshua, Peter, Rosie, Ezra, Molly, Jonathan, Gemma, Eliza, Gwen, and Mimi.
A viewing will be held on Friday, January 25, 2019 from 6:00-8:00 pm at the chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints at 4035 N Timpview Drive in Provo. The funeral service will be at the same location on January 26, 2019 at 11:00 am. There will be another viewing prior to the funeral, from 10:00-10:45 am. Interment will be at East Lawn Memorial Hills in Provo. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Disabled American Veterans at dav.org
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