Smith, Edward Paul

Edward Paul Smith - age: 65
(September 06, 1945 to January 09, 2011 )
Resident of Redwood Valley, California

Obituary:
Edward Paul Smith, 65, of Ukiah, CA, quietly passed away early Sunday morning on January 9th surrounded by his family’s love.

Born in Glendale, CA, to Harlan and Rosella Smith, Ed met and married his high school sweetheart in June of 1965. His first job was calling out hotdogs & peanuts at Dodger stadium where he loved to watch his favorite baseball player, a fellow southpaw by the name of Sandy Kofax. Unfortunately Ed was let go from his job there soon after being hired for eating more of his concessions than he sold.

His love for cars led him to working at a body shop in Los Angeles. After receiving his teaching credentials, he pursued a lifetime trade and passion for classic car restoration and collision repair.

Wanting a better life for his expanding family, Ed moved from Los Angeles to Ukiah in 1977 where he became a journeyman technician, passing his knowledge and craftsmanship along to countless people in our community. Ed and his family shared many wonderful years together, expanding and remodeling the Smith House.

Ed’s creativity was endless. His strong hands had mastered many skills and hobbies including rebuilding vintage Porsches, golf, construction, art, basketball, and slight-of-hand finger tricks that would entertain his children and grand children for hours. Though hardened by the metal he daily shaped and reworked, he still had the delicate touch of a craftsman and created beautiful oil paintings and sketches. He enjoyed the ponies and the Las Vegas night life and craps and poker tournaments, and played the winning hand more than a few times.

Ed is loved and remembered by his wife Teri, and his children Ron (Jennifer), Lara (Brent), Ryan (Elise), Michael (Sarah), Kevin (Melissa); his grandchildren Jalen, Zane, Olivia, Katana, Nicholas, and Josalyn. He is loved and missed by his older brother Don Smith (Kathy) and his nieces and nephews Don, Cindy, Tim, and Joanna. Ed will be missed by countless friends and extended family in the community, you know who you are.

Ed received his nickname “Chewie” for his strikingly handsome resemblance to the famous wookiee who also held a welder left-handed. Even though we may all remember Ed by a different name: Daddy, Papa, Chewie, Fast Eddie or Jones, we will all of us always remember what he told us; “We are all just bouncing on a big blue ball through space.”

In lieu of services at this time, the family asks that in remembrance of Ed you go do something nice for someone else.