Donald W. (Pete) Smith, a resident of Manteca, California entered into rest on May 19, 2022. He was born on February 1, 1935. Pete was 87 years old. Pete was predeceased in 1993 by his first wife, Helen Patricia (Carter) whom he married in 1968, two sisters Phyllis and Barbara (Bud) Kelly, half-sister June (Martin) O’Brien and half-brother, Paul Martin and his parents Louise A. (Pfau) and Harold A. Smith.
Mr. Smith is survived by his wife Isabel (Cavanaugh-Duffy) Smith whom he married in 1996, three daughters: Marcia (Myers-Portillo) Wagner (Ken), Laura (Myers) Vasquez (Steve), Vicki (Myers) Cardoza, one son Peter Smith (Melissa), one brother Terry Smith, six grandchildren: Stephen (Jolene) Vasquez, Kendra (Vasquez) Munoz (Robert), Alyssa (Cardoza) Moran (Kris), Brandon Portillo (Rian) and Emma and Samantha Smith, five great grandchildren Connor, Riley, Jase, Hudson and Archer. Pete is also survived by three step-sons Mark Duffy (Sharon), Patrick Michael Duffy and Christopher Duffy (Ann) and one step daughter, Susan Senica, and he has ten step grandchildren and ten step great-grandchildren.
Pete grew up in Ottawa, Illinois and attended Shabbona grade School and graduated from Ottawa Township High School, Class of 1954, where he was on the basketball team. That same year he began employment at Libby-Owens Ford glass plant in Ottawa. His employment at LOF was interrupted by proudly serving in the U.S. Army from 1957-1959. In 1960 he and two other fellow LOF employee’s drove to sunny California to help start up a new glass plant for LOF in Lathrop. That employment continued until retirement in 1991 after 37 years of dedicated and loyal service. In his early years in California with his wife, Patti, and four children, they enjoyed trips in their motor home, camping at lakes, sailing and making annual trips back to Ottawa, Illinois to visit friends and relatives.
Throughout his life, he especially enjoying attending various high school athletic events and watching college ball on TV. Though he lived in California for 62 years, he remained a loyal Chicago Cubs and Bears fan. He loved being a product of the 1950’s, listening and dancing to that music all his life and enjoyed owning nice cars, especially convertibles and still owned a 1963 Ford Thunderbird Convertible.
According to his wishes, cremation took place and a Graveside Service will be held on Friday, June 3, 2022 at 1pm at East Union Cemetery in Manteca with Pastor Bill Barnett officiating and full military honors accorded by the Escalon-Ripon American Legion. Friends are invited to attend.
