Smith, Donald Calvin, 88, died January 23, 2007 at a Mars Hill health facility. Arrangements are in the care of Duncan-Graves Funeral Home, Presque Isle.
PRESQUE ISLE – Donald Calvin Smith, 88, passed away Tuesday, January 23, at a Mars Hill health facility. He was born September 25, 1918, in Presque Isle, the son of June (Wood) Smith and Shirley Smith.
Don grew up in Easton and graduated from University of Maine in 1940. Always an outstanding athlete, Don played basketball and baseball in high school and won many ski and snowshoe events at winter carnivals. In college Don excelled at cross country running, was New England Champion for all four years and placed as high as fourth in the Nationals. Also, in mile and half-mile events he set State and New England records that weren’t broken for several decades. Don received many honors in college: he was chosen Sophomore Owl and Senior Skull, he received the Pale Blue Key Scholarship and others. He held offices in Men’s Student Senate, Interfraternity Council, M Club, Maine Athletic Association, and his class. He joined Phi Eta Kappa fraternity, serving as President in his Senior year. In addition to family and friends, two men exerted strong influence on Don: William Hale, his high school principal, teacher, and coach and Chester Jenkins, his college track coach. Both taught him, along with athletic skills, lessons for leading a good life. They appreciated Don because he worked hard to excel and he obeyed to the smallest detail their rules for training and for living. Later in life he was elected to the Maine Sports Hall of Fame, Maine Running Hall of Fame and the University of Maine Sports Hall of Fame. During his school years, Don worked summers on his grandfather John Calvin Smith’s farm. In addition to growing potatoes, they raised white-faced Hereford cattle, which, when sold, helped pay Don’s college expenses. One of his happiest memories was of spending a week at Northern Maine Fair, tenting with his gramp while they tended the cattle they were exhibiting. After college graduation Don ran his grandfather’s farm. He loved all the farm operations, never seeming to tire from the long days of hard work. For years he still had the energy for playing town team basketball and baseball. In the 1940’s Don taught math at ACI in Mars Hill. Later, along with farming, he taught agriculture, math and science at Easton High School where he also coached basketball. From the late 1950’s until retirement he taught math at Presque Isle High School, sometimes coaching track and ski teams. For several years he served as athletic director. Despite a life of hard work, Don never lost his zest for living. He spent happy days hunting and fishing with his brother-in-law Kenneth Kirkpatrick, took trips with the Young Farmers Association, enjoyed the students in his classes and on his teams, and loved the excitement of local competitions and state tournaments. Through many snowstorms, he drove downstate to watch his sons play basketball; starting with little league, he watched them play baseball. After retirement, Don continued his active life with his wife Elza, enjoying their home, gardening, tree planting and traveling. In their retirement years, Don and Elza enjoyed their neighbors on the Centerline Road. Don gardened with Lloyd Blackstone and appreciated Lloyd and Anita’s hospitality when he needed medical treatment in Portland. Elza’s sister Bea and her husband Kermit Estes lived for many years beside them, providing the comforts of family. Don Blackstone came across the road to be an accomplice in many woodworking projects. Junior and Janice Lamb continue the tradition of friendly, supportive neighbors always available in times of need. Don and Elza have been especially grateful those last difficult years for the help and friendship of their neighbors Dr. Fareed Siddiqui and his wife Saba. They will always be remembered. Don was a wonderful grampy to his granddaughters and his step-grandchildren. He took up wood working and for all the girls made cedar chests which Elza decorated. He played games with his grandchildren and taught them to operate snowmobiles.
Don was predeceased by his older sister Pauline and husband Kenneth Kirkpatrick from Easton, and by his younger sister Natalie Henness of Florida. He is survived by first wife Glenna Johnson Smith and their sons Steven and wife Sylvia Gartley Smith of Stockton Springs, Byron of Jonesport, and Melbourne of Presque Isle; by granddaughters Jasmine and Hillary Smith of Presque Isle; by step-grandchildren Ashley and Mark Baker of Boston, Joshua and Bethany Taylor of Virginia; by nieces Diane Perley of New Brunswick and Shirley and Russell Miller of Hodgdon, and nephew Frederick (Buster) Kirkpatrick of Florida; and step-children Leslie Nee of Gorham, and Dana Davies of Gray; by great-niece Lorraine and Roger Wilcox of Westfield, great-nephew Chuck Flanagan of Florida, and many other great-nieces and nephews. He is survived by his beloved wife Elza of Presque Isle, her daughters Veronica and husband Ralph Terrell of Colorado Springs; Virginia and husband Robert F. White of Caribou; and sons Walter Osgood and wife Cathy of Easton and George Osgood and wife Priscilla of East Waterboro, many grandchildren and step-grandchildren.
Relatives and friends called 7-9 p.m. Thursday at Duncan-Graves Funeral Home, 30 Church St., Presque Isle. A memorial service was held 1 p.m. Friday at the funeral home with the Reverend Larry Palmer officiating. Spring interment will be at Estes Park Cemetery, Easton. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Franklin S Cunningham Scholarship fund at Presque Isle High School, 16 Griffin St., Presque Isle, ME 04769. When he was a college track star, Don was often called the “Easton Express” by Maine and New England sport writers. The Easton Express has had a long distance run-a good run. He is now at rest in the terminal.
