Warren Smith

(June 7, 2006)

Memorial services will be conducted Wednesday, June 7 at 10 a.m. at Union Presbyterian Church in Powell for Warren Larson Smith, 84, former superintendent of the University of Wyoming Research and Extension Center at Powell, who died Saturday, June 3 in hospice care at Powell Valley Hospital.

The Rev. David Hunter will officiate at services. Cremation has taken place.

He was born March 18, 1922, at Glendo, son of Fred V. and Josephine (Hoffland) Smith. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1945 in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He married Ethel M. Haarr April 8, 1944, during a furlough at Providence, R.I.

After his discharge, he completed a B.S. degree in agronomy in 1948 and an M.S. degree in plant pathology at the University of Wyoming and began his life’s work as an agronomist. His first UW assignments were in Laramie and Torrington and then he was named superintendent at the agricultural experiment center in Powell in 1951. He continued in that capacity until his retirement in 1986. During his tenure, he served an outreach assignment as a research agronomist in Afghanistan from 1954-58.

Warren was an active participant in the civic life of Powell. He was a member of the Northwest Community College Board of Trustees from 1962-1967 and served one year as board chairman. He was also a past commander of the American Legion Post 26 and a member of the Powell Hospital board, the Rocky Mountain Manor operating board, the Powell Senior Citizens board, and the Silver-haired Legislature.

He was a past president of Powell Rotary Club and a member of the Union Presbyterian Church, Masons, Kalif Shrine and Order of Eastern Star. He was a Past Worthy Grand Patron of OES.

His hobbies include lapidary and flint knapping, hunting, fishing and pitching horseshoes. He had a love of fiddle music and what he called “pickin’ and grinnin'” on the mandolin. He was a member of the Wyoming Fiddlers Association.

Survivors include his wife Ethel Smith of Powell; a son, Gerald T. Smith of Sheridan; two daughters, Patricia Sanborn of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Diane Feather (Lee) of Sheridan; and a sister, Jeanne Smith Krause. He loved two grandchildren, Heather Sanborn Duysen (Mike) and the late Larry Sanborn.

He was preceded in death by five siblings and one grandson.

For those who wish, the family would appreciate memorial contributions to the NWC Foundation.