Edward Benjamin Smith

"He was a devoted, hardworking husband, and family man, with a great sense of humor and a quick wit." Ned Smith lost his long battle with cancer and passed away at 2:30 p.m., on his birthday, January 13, 2011, at his home in Vancouver, WA, where he resided with his wife, Coleen. He was born to Edward and Nina Smith in Oakland, California on January 13, 1930. They eventually settled in Grants Pass, Oregon where he attended Grants Pass High, graduating in 1947. Ned was a member of the Grants Pass Cavemen Association. In his younger years he also raced midgets and then demolition race cars. He was an avid hunter and outdoorsman. He flew his first solo in a small plane at the age of 14. As a veteran of the Korean War, he served as a staff sergeant in the United States Air Force. In his later years he obtained his skipper license and ran a commercial charter boat out of Ilwaco. He was elected as a Clark County Commissioner in 1972, where he served one term and remained active in the political arena for most of his life. He continued on that path co-hosting a local talk radio show, Clark County Talks. In the 1960's, Ned sang in a barbershop quartet, The Guardsmen. The Guardsmen later went on to perform in shows across the states including Hawaii, on the Don Ho show and on the Mickey Fin show in Reno, Nevada. The group appeared along side some note-worthy performers including an up-and-coming quartet at the time, The Osmand Brothers. Ned enjoyed riding motorcycles for most of his life, belonging to a Honda Goldwing club where he and his wife, Coleen, toured the Northwest. He loved hunting, fishing, and camping with his family. He gravitated to the sales industry and was very successful selling large trucks and buses, when he was offered a partnership into W.J. Roots Bus, franchise. When the partners decided to sell and retire, Ned and Coleen bought a motor home, followed the sun, and ended up in Arizona. They loved Arizona and would visit often, where he became active in a creative writing group. Ned was a born story teller and was soon involved, performing in shows, where he narrated short stories about his childhood antics and lifelong adventures. Ned is survived by his wife, Coleen; his brother, Wally; and their four children, Teri Wilson, Sharon Anderson, James and Willie Smith; 10 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by all of us who knew and loved him. He left a void that will be felt by those that he'd touched throughout his life.

Edward Benjamin Smith

January 13, 1930 - January 13, 2011