Chester G. Smith

Chet Smith, as he was known to his friends, passed away in his ninety-sixth year on Dec. 19, 2005.He was born in San Francisco, as were both his parents, and was raised and educated as a civil engineer in the East Bay. He worked as a land surveyor and in highway/bridge construction in California and Nevada during the Depression until WWII. He entered the U.S. Marine Corps as a First Lieutenant and made four opposed landings as a Captain. He was well decorated and remained in the Marine Corps as a reserve officer and retired as a full colonel.He became a Registered Civil Engineer in 1947 and worked for several cities and counties in California. The latter part of his career he had worked on highway and bridge construction in several countries in Africa, Bolivia, South America, Indonesia and ended in Thailand. Both he and his wife were known as world travelers. He retired at age 61 and settled in Walnut Creek. They later moved to the vicinity of the Lake of Pines in the late 70s.He was a member of the Masonic Lodge for 56 years and the Scottish Rite for 50 years.He was preceded in death by his wife, Avis, of almost 62 years and is survived by his son Doug, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.