Dan E. Smithson

Saturday, April 3, 2010, 1:00pm, South Sound Manor, located at the Masonic Cemetery, 455 North St SE, Tumwater, WA Dan E. Smithson, soldier, husband, father, and opa died March 30, 2010 at age 81. He was ready to meet his Lord. 2 Timothy 4:7: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”Dan was born in Woodruff, Arizona on August 4, 1928, the youngest of nine children of Dennis and Mary Smithson. He attended Common Schools of Navajo County, Arizona. After high school he worked as a cowboy for 5 years on his uncle’s ranch in Tucemcarry, New Mexico. He was drafted into the Army in 1951 and served his country for 30 years. He retired in Lacey, Washington in 1982. Following his military retirement he worked as a private contractor for the army as an instructor in supply and logistics. Dan and Renate Becker met during his first tour of duty in Germany and were married in 1960. They raised two children, Ralph and Doreen. They were married for 39 years until Renate’s death in 1999. He missed her very much. In his later years Dan’s 2 grandchildren, Rachele and Danielle Smithson were the joy of his life. “Pop” had an incredible breadth and depth of spirit, courage, and inner strength. He shared those gifts with his family and for that we are grateful. In the last few years of his life he was physically limited by infirmities, nevertheless his mind was sharp and those attributes continued to be displayed daily in his life until the end. He was an inspiration to us all. We want to thank our father and opa for all that he thought, said, and did for us. He was generous with his family; he never said no. “He was the best daddy and opa” and will be dearly missed. He is now resting in peace with oma. 2 Timothy 4:8: “In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” Condolences may be left online for the family by clicking on "View Guestbook" below.