Obituary

Daniel James Smith Jr., aged 98, passed away on January 14, 2013. Jim was born on September 27, 1914, the child of Daniel James and Marie Magdalena Smith in Los Angeles, making him a third generation native Californian. He is survived by his devoted wife of 70 years Darthea; two children, Kathleen and Gregory; and four grandchildren, Nicole, Rand, Brandon and Dillon.

Jim graduated from high school in 1933, and returned to college in 1941, where he met Darthea. They married at the Santa Barbara Mission in February of 1942. He served in the Army from December 1942 until February 1946. Jim and his division, the 7th Army, witnessed the surrender of Hermann Goering in Augsburg, Germany on May 7, 1945.

?After the war, Jim concluded his education at USC and received a degree in Civil Engineering. He worked for several companies, and completed his years as a Senior Engineer for the Los Angeles Metropolitan Water District, retiring at age of 71. During his tenure with the MWD he was awarded the National Society of Civil Engineers Thomas Fitch Roland Prize for his paper on underground reservoir earthquake damage.

In lieu of flowers, you may send a donation to Habitat for Humanity. Services will be held at St. Edward Catholic Church in Dana Point, January 26.