News
ENLARGE
Col. Kenneth A. Smith, USAF (Ret.), passed away at the age of 94 at Spring Hill Manor with his wife Winonah at his side on Oct. 29, 2011.
He was laid to rest in Missoula, Mont., with full military honors.
Ken was born in Hooper, Utah. His family moved to Idaho where he graduated from Preston High School in 1935.
Because the depression years were difficult for Ken and his family, he started college in 1935 at Utah State Agriculture College in Logan, Utah, but had to quit to earn some money.
To earn money during those lean years, Ken worked at the Franklin County Sugar Company and then transferred to Brigham Young University (where, in 1947, he would later earn a degree in civil engineering and geology).
In 1940, with war clouds rising in Europe, Ken quit college and enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He was sent to Flying Cadet School and later to Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas, for bombadier and navigator training where he met his future wife, Winonah Spannagel.
After the U.S. entered World War II, Ken was sent to North Africa where he joined the 12th Bomb Group.
He flew numerous missions over North Africa, Sicily and Italy.
He decided to accept a regular Army commission in 1944 and went on to a distinguished military career with assignments as varied as Guam, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and many stateside posts.
Ken retired from the Air Force in 1970 while in North Dakota. His Air Force awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Purple Heart, the Distinguished Flying Cross and many others.
After retirement, Ken and Winonah moved to Nevada City in the mid-1970s, where Ken established himself as a distinguished member of the community.
He was a member of the Nevada County Planning Commission until 1996 on which he served for 14 years. He was the chairman of the commission three times and became well known throughout the community as someone who knew the “ins and outs” of the local political scene.
Ken also became well-known within the Realtor community as their liaison to the political hierarchy of Nevada County.
As such, he was well-known as an ardent defender of the private property rights of individuals and businesses.
As a veteran, Ken was active in the American Legion, Disabled Veterans of America and the Vietnam Veterans of America, and in 1999, he was the president of the Vietnam Veterans of Nevada County.
As a distinguished veteran, Ken served as the moderator and organizer of many local veteran oriented events, including Memorial Day activities.
Ken had many hobbies, but most of all he loved to be with his family as much as possible.
His voluntary work with the local amateur radio group provided communications support during community emergencies and to many overseas locations.
He also liked to work with stain glass art. His stained glass art is on display throughout the community and is highlighted by his beautiful rendition of the American flag which can be seen at Paulette's Country Kitchen and in the Veterans building in Grass Valley.
Ken is survived by his wife, Winonah; two children, Kenneth Allen and Sylvia; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
His patriotism, warmth, knowledge and generosity will be missed by his family and his many friends.
He was laid to rest in Missoula, Mont., with full military honors.
Ken was born in Hooper, Utah. His family moved to Idaho where he graduated from Preston High School in 1935.
Because the depression years were difficult for Ken and his family, he started college in 1935 at Utah State Agriculture College in Logan, Utah, but had to quit to earn some money.
To earn money during those lean years, Ken worked at the Franklin County Sugar Company and then transferred to Brigham Young University (where, in 1947, he would later earn a degree in civil engineering and geology).
In 1940, with war clouds rising in Europe, Ken quit college and enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He was sent to Flying Cadet School and later to Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas, for bombadier and navigator training where he met his future wife, Winonah Spannagel.
After the U.S. entered World War II, Ken was sent to North Africa where he joined the 12th Bomb Group.
He flew numerous missions over North Africa, Sicily and Italy.
He decided to accept a regular Army commission in 1944 and went on to a distinguished military career with assignments as varied as Guam, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and many stateside posts.
Ken retired from the Air Force in 1970 while in North Dakota. His Air Force awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Purple Heart, the Distinguished Flying Cross and many others.
After retirement, Ken and Winonah moved to Nevada City in the mid-1970s, where Ken established himself as a distinguished member of the community.
He was a member of the Nevada County Planning Commission until 1996 on which he served for 14 years. He was the chairman of the commission three times and became well known throughout the community as someone who knew the “ins and outs” of the local political scene.
Ken also became well-known within the Realtor community as their liaison to the political hierarchy of Nevada County.
As such, he was well-known as an ardent defender of the private property rights of individuals and businesses.
As a veteran, Ken was active in the American Legion, Disabled Veterans of America and the Vietnam Veterans of America, and in 1999, he was the president of the Vietnam Veterans of Nevada County.
As a distinguished veteran, Ken served as the moderator and organizer of many local veteran oriented events, including Memorial Day activities.
Ken had many hobbies, but most of all he loved to be with his family as much as possible.
His voluntary work with the local amateur radio group provided communications support during community emergencies and to many overseas locations.
He also liked to work with stain glass art. His stained glass art is on display throughout the community and is highlighted by his beautiful rendition of the American flag which can be seen at Paulette's Country Kitchen and in the Veterans building in Grass Valley.
Ken is survived by his wife, Winonah; two children, Kenneth Allen and Sylvia; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
His patriotism, warmth, knowledge and generosity will be missed by his family and his many friends.
