1919 - 1999
Walter was born July 7, 1919 in Salt Lake City, the youngest son of Katherine Squires and Sidney C. Smith. He had two brothers, Paul and Chester, and one sister, Edith Smith Anderson. Chester is the only one surviving. Walter passed away August 24, 1999 in Salt Lake City.He grew up in the historic Canyon Road, surrounded by an extended family of parents, siblings, grandparents, uncles and aunts, and cousins. City Creek Canyon was his playground. Every summer he and his brothers went camping and fishing up the canyon. These beginnings had a great influence on his life, and he always remained very attached to this area and the Avenues, where he lived all his life.
Walter attended the University of Utah and went on to graduate from the University of California at Berkeley with a degree in Anthropology. He also studied at the Conservatory of Music in San Francisco.
During World War II, the Army sent him with a selected group to a school in Pittsburg to learn European History and several languages to prepare them as special forces to help reestablish order at the end of the war. However, when he had been in the school about a year, the Army suddenly needed Infantry Replacements and closed the school and sent him and his fellow classmates to the front line in France, without taking time for even the most elementary
training.
Upon the death of his officers, Walter took command of a group in his bunker. He was later shot in the spine and the upper leg and spent two and a half days lying among the dead in the battlefield, until he was rescued. He was awarded the Silver Star and two Purple Hearts.
Walter was married to Barbara Anderson, and had two children, Amanda and Eric. He was later divorced.
In 1956 he married his present wife, Pilar Pasqual del Pobil, from Mallorca, Spain. They have three children: Luis, (Lauren Schine) Salt Lake City; Monica (Tom Erickson) San Francisco, CA; and Maggie Smith Cerda (Jose Luis Cerda) Barcelona, Spain.
Walter worked for years in the business of uranium and oil licenses. He was Director of Industrial Promotion for the State of Utah during Governor Rampton's Administration. He conducted an Industrial Mission in Europe.
He was very active in the Democratic Party and was always proud to call himself "A Liberal". He went to work for many years with Walker M. Wallace with Arizona Ranch and Metals Co.
He served for several years as a board member of the Utah Arts Council and became Chairman. Arts Council Members and staff still remember Walter's tenure as one of the most productive periods.
Walter was in very poor health for the last six years. The family would like to thank so many friends for their support during this hard time; friends that have been so important in Walter's life: among many others, Hal and Rose Cameron and family, Ron Swenson, Jim Kimball, Jo Ann Freed and Kumar Chavre, Ruth Draper and Bill Crockett, Walker and Sue Wallace, Jim and Evelyn Lee, Clarence and Inga Reese, Katie McMahon, Frank Brophy (Phoenix, AZ), Pearl Hilton (his secretary), Willamarie Huelskamp and Ira Rubenfeld, Susan Klinker and others too numerous to name.
Also, we are very grateful to his special friend and caregiver, Gwen Mitchell, Nurse Practitioner from the Veterans Administration, who has given us so much support during the last years, and the many people from the Veteran's Hospital in Salt Lake City who have taken a special interest in Walter. We appreciate it.
He spent his last months in the Federal Heights Rehabilitation Center, and there I would like to give special thanks to Anoma, Jorge, Jean, Stephany, and all the ones who have contributed to his comfort during his last days.
Following Walter's wishes, he will be cremated. An Open House for his friends and family will be held in his honor at his home, 403 8th Ave., SLC, on Sunday, August 29, 1999 from 5-8 p.m. Services under the direction of the Garner Funeral Home
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