Ronald Smith

Born December 26, 1934, in Viscount, Saskatchewan to Golda and Aubrey Smith, Ron was the youngest of three boys. His older brothers, Keith and Merle, worked the farm until they moved to Abbotsford when Ron was 12.

Ron made life-long friends when he attended Abbotsford Elementary (uphill both ways, in the snow), and then Sheffield High School, where he played basketball, soccer and volleyball. He also played rugby, hockey, and fast pitch softball on community teams. In the evenings, Ron set pins at the local bowling alley so that he could bowl for free.

Ron was hired by the Clayburn Brick Plant as soon as he finished high school, and given the task of setting up a new ceramic lab. He was transferred to Medicine Hat as a supervisor in 1959, the same year he married Verna Kiss.

The next year he and Verna returned to Clayburn in Abbotsford, and in 1961 son Boyd was born. Son Mike was born in 1962, and son Jim in 1965. Ron would continue to work at Clayburn until his retirement in 1994, when he decided that working was interfering with his golf game.

Ron played first base for the Frasier Valley Inn fast pitch softball team until son Jim was born. After that, he spent his extra hours ferrying the boys to hockey practices. Ron kept a sleeping bag and pillow in the back seat of his 1964 4 door Acadian. He would drive them to practice early, sleep while they practiced, and then drop them at school on his way to work. In later years, he coached softball and baseball teams when the boys played.

Ron and Verna loved to travel the world. They visited most of the countries in Europe, northern Africa, the Caribbean and the South Pacific. They also visited Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and enjoyed cruises to many other locations.

Ron is survived by his wife Verna, son Boyd (Karen) of Abbotsford, son Mike (Joanne) of Nanaimo, and son Jim (Jennifer) of Goldendale, Washington, as well as grandchildren Chris, Kendra, Tessa, Georgia, Gillian, Adam, Nadia, Jade and Thea.

A service will be held at Saint James Parish on Saturday, March 28 at 1:00 pm, at 2777 Townline Road, Abbotsford, followed by a reception and a burial at the Hazelwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Parkinson Society of British Columbia, at www.parkinson.bc.ca.