Wendell Richard Smith's Obituary
Our beloved Wendell Richard Smith, age 66, passed away peacefully in his home after a long courageous battle with cancer on Friday, December 23rd, 2022. Wendell was born on September 11th, 1956 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Joseph Theron Smith (born in Grantsville, Utah) and Neva Almira Harper Smith (born in Nahunta, North Carolina). He was the eighth of twelve children.
When Wendell was a child, he enjoyed singing with his siblings. They had even, on occasion, been compared to the other famous family singers at the time. Wendell’s love of music never left him as it continued throughout his life.
Wendell graduated from Orem High School in 1975. He shortly thereafter served a mission to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. After successfully completing his mission, he returned to Utah and decided to further his education. Eventually, he was accepted at Brigham Young University-Hawaii, and there he discovered his love of scuba diving. He was not only a very avid and accomplished diver but enjoyed teaching diving as well. Most people are unaware that Wendell was a great speaker. He enjoyed being able to give talks in groups or business meetings. He very much enjoyed politics and if given the opportunity he loved to talk of his views and the way he saw the world. Another one of his favorite hobbies was skiing. He loved to hit the slopes.
Wendell started working for his father at the Green Grove Printing Press when he was a teenager, and continued his employment there until he left on his mission. Much later, in his adult years, he also worked for the A. B. Dick Company as a mechanic/salesman. In 1994, Wendell worked for his brother Steven at Q.A. Printing as a mechanic for the printing presses there; as well as an aircraft mechanic at the Provo Airport.
Wendell met the love of his life, Josephine Guichard, while working at a call center in Orem, Utah in 2001. They hit it off immediately, having common interests in most things, and building a strong friendship. They became neighbors for a time, and continued their friendship until it became a courtship. They fell in love and were married on November 16th, 2005. Wendell, more than anything, wanted to be a father and was given the opportunity after marrying his wife, Josephine. Timothy, (the eldest), Nicole, (Middle child) and David, (the youngest) accompanied by two grandchildren, Jayden and Melody. Wendell retired as a Road Service Agent for C.R. England Trucking Co. in 2018 and that allowed him more time to focus on more of the things he valued most, such as family. He loved more than anything spending time with his two grandchildren, Jayden and Melodie.
Celebration of life Services will be held at Legacy Retirement 1617 West Temple Lane on Monday January 2, 2022 at Noon
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