Marvin Duane Smith

Marvin Smith, of Fillmore, went home to be with the Lord and his loving wife, Bonnie at 4:48 a.m. on 2/11/11. He was born 4/4/28 in Doniphan, MO to Elza and Pearl Smith, making him almost 83 years old.. The last four months were very hard on his health, recovering from a heart attack in October to finally be freed from his suffering with a bout of pneumonia.

In November 1928, he moved to California with his Dad, Mom, and sister Imo Jewel (went to heaven in 1973), staying with his Mom’s brother in Oxnard before moving to the ranch house on Hopper Creek, near Piru. They lived there 28 years before moving to another ranch a few miles closer to Piru. He lived there until he enlisted in the Army after graduating from Fillmore High School in 1946. Marvin married his beautiful wife Bonnie Ruth Maier on June 19, 1949. They lived in their “honeymoon cottage” as Bonnie called it on the Felsenthal Ranch near Piru before moving to their home on Guiberson Road where he worked as Ranch Foreman for Shiells Ranch. He lived there with Bonnie, and their three kids until they moved to Fillmore in 1956 to the orchard and home where Bonnie was born. This was his temporary home of 55 years until Friday, when he went to his eternal home in heaven.

Oh, the memories of gatherings of family and friends at that home! During that time he worked several different jobs from driving Texaco gas truck, vacuum truck, and for Van Noy Trucking working the longest in the oil fields for Texaco in Castaic and Sheills Lease from which he retired in 1983. All that time also working so hard to take care of his orange orchard. He also served the Fillmore Sheriff’s Posse, now called Search and Rescue putting in many unselfish hours from looking for lost Boy Scouts in the Sespe to gathering remains from airplane crashes in the back country. He was a member of the Piru Petroleum Club and had very much missed going to the luncheons and Thursday night dinners as his health failed him.

He loved races especially NASCAR, traveling, camping, fishing, hunting, and partying with friends and family. He took such good care of Bonnie while she had cancer and was the best Dad and Grandpa ever. He had so many friends because he was such a good friend to others. He would give them the shirt off his back and drive thousands of miles to aid a friend in need. Even in his last days in his earthly body his concern was for his family and friends, nurses and doctors - always unselfish. He was loved by so many people - many hearts are aching today, but also smiling and laughing remembering all the trials of life they shared and the good and hilarious times with him.

Until reunited in heaven he leaves behind his close-knit family - his son, Bill (Carolyn) Smith, of Oxnard and their daughters, Shauna (Nick) Trierweiler of MA, Katherine (Will) Fortney of Camarillo and their kids Brenden, Taylor Paige, and Zachary Eccles; daughters, Linda (Terry) Granberry and their daughter Sarah of Camarillo and Judy (Ruben) Gil and their son Brian of Atascadero; sisters, Barbara (Doug) Douglas of MO and their families and Eleanor (Chuck) Dodson of Exeter and their families.

Marvin’s family is so grateful for his many friends who checked in on him on a regular basis, especially in his later years - we love you all.

Arrangements are being made by Skillin-Carrol Mortuary, 600 N. Central Ave., Fillmore, CA, where a viewing for friends will be held Wed., Feb. 16 from 3 to 7 p.m. Graveside service at Bardsdale Cemetery, 1698 S. Sespe St., Fillmore, will be Thursday, Feb. 17, 2011 at 1:00 p.m.