SMITH, Joseph Daniel

Vistoso Funeral Home, Oro Valley, Arizona Joseph Daniel Smith September 29, 1929 - November 30, 2014 Joseph Daniel Smith, 85, adored husband of Patricia Smith, passed away peacefully on November 30, 2014, in Tucson. Joseph was born on September 29, 1929, in Birmingham, England, to Joseph D. Smith, Sr. and Mary Howarth Smith. As a young man, Joseph survived the death of his father at age nine, the Blitz Krieg of London by the Germans in WWII, and later in life, a victorious battle over alcoholism. Joseph entered college in England at the tender age of thirteen, and after graduating with a Master's Degree, proudly served in the Royal Air Force for two years before being hired by Rolls-Royce in London as an engineer. Joseph moved to Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and worked for Bombardier/Canada Airlines for nine years as an aeronautical engineer. While living in Montreal, Joseph completed his doctorate in Mathematics at McGill University. His wanderlust prompted a move to Atlanta, Georgia, where he was hired as a Senior Designer/Aeronautical Engineer by Lockheed-Martin, and he then became a proud American citizen. After a highly successful thirty year career with Lockheed-Martin, Joseph and his late wife, Sara Lynn Smith, moved to SaddleBrooke, AZ to retire. A man of varied talents, Joseph loved to design, build, and fly remote-controlled, model airplanes with the SaddleBrooke Radio Controlled Model Flying/Boat Club. He especially loved small children and babies, stray dogs and cats, walking on beaches, and his many dear friends. Joseph's dry wit, hearty laugh and British sense of humor was endeared to all who knew him, and he will be deeply missed. Blessed thanks to Liz and Roger Raymond and their caring staff at Fidelity Care Corner, and to the staff at Casa de la Luz Hospice. Joseph's ashes were spread on Haena Beach, Kauai, HI, on December 9, 2014, and a Celebration of Life will be held in the Spring of 2015.