John Harold Smith was born on September 10, 1926 in Pasadena, California to Harold and Alena Smith. He attended South Pasadena High School and the University of Montana before enlisting in the United States Army Air Corps.

During WWII he was part of the 8th Air Force stationed in England and the occupation of Germany. After returning from the War he married his high school sweetheart, Gloria Pitre, and moved to Whittier in 1950. He served as President of the Mulberry Elementary School PTA, President of the Eart Whittier Jacyees, and a founding Board Member of the Whittier Pop Warner Youth Football program. He was awarded a Life Membership in the PTA and a similar award, the Junior Chamber of Commerce International Senate Membership from the Jaycees.

His greatest passion was political involvement where he worked in local, state and national campaigns rising to a role as major advisor to the US Senator George Murphy and a Southern California position with the campaigns of President Richard Nixon. John Smith was an early pioner in the Aerospace Industry and participated during the 1960's and 1970's in various parts of the Mercury and Gemini space programs. He ventured into the real estate market in the 1970's as a partner in Western Realty of Downey, and later moved to Dallas, Texas to become an Executive in Century 21 Corporation for the South/West Region. As he neared retirment John moved to Hawaiii and partnered in a real estate firm there. John Smith retired in 1999 and moved back to California to be with his family. He is survived by his son, Los Angeles City Coucilman, Greig Smith, and daughter-in-law Christine Smith; two grandchildren, Krista (Smith) Shader and Matthew John Smith.

Whittier Daily News, September 30, 2005