52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 6

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 6

~Most of my genealogy work is on my paternal grandparents and maternal grandparents, mainly because my husband’s tree is some-what difficult because of the last name SMITH- very difficult to trace. However, throughout these 52 weeks, I do have a couple of Smith’s that I’m going to be writing about J

Francis Morse Smith (1920-1985)- My husband’s grandfather

(a.k.a.- Dr. Walter Morse Smith)

Dr. Walter M. Smith

Birth:           21 Mar 1920         Oakland, Alameda, California

Death:          17 Jul 1985           La Mesa, San Diego, California

                    Age: 65

Parents:       Walter Allen Smith (1884-1926) &

                              Violet Claire Brown (1879-1965)

Siblings:    

Francis had 1 older brother- Walter Allen Smith Jr. (1918-?)

Walter Sr., and sons

Behind the name change:

Francis started going by Walter in grade school when his father died. I don’t know if ever legally changed it to Walter, but since he basically took his brother’s name, Walter Jr. went by his middle name, Allen.

         

Residences:

1920 (birth):         Oakland, California

1930 (age 10):       Mecca, Riverside, California

1945 (age 25):      Berkeley, Alameda, California

1945 (age 25):      Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska

1948 (age 28):      San Diego, California

1985 (age 65):      La Mesa, San Diego, California

Eagle Scout:

Walter received his Eagle Scout in Boy Scouts about 1933 at the age of 13. He was honored and in the local newspaper for his profound achievement.

Eagle Scount- age 13

Education:

Walter graduated from UC Berkeley and then graduated from medical school at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska in 1945.

Walter at Creighton University

Military:

After graduating from medical school, Walter used his talents as a flight surgeon in the Army Air Corp during World War II.

Family:

Walter married on 19 Jun 1948 in San Diego, California. (Bride’s name is disclosed because she is still alive). They had 3 sons- Walter, Paul and David.

Walter and his bride on their wedding day- Love this picture

More pictures of Walter:

 I unfortunately didn't get to meet Walter, but he seemed like a very ambitious and hard working individual. 

Death:

At the young age of 65, Walter died in 1985 due to a pulmonary embolus due to a cerebral hemorrhage due to diabetic atherosclerosis.

Burial:

Walter is buried in the Holy Cross Cemetery in La Mesa, San Diego, California.