Joseph Ray Smith's Obituary
Joseph Ray Smith, 100-year-old World War II Veteran, of Daly City, died at home peacefully surrounded by loved ones on July 8th, 2023.
He was born June 19th,1923 (the Greatest Generation) in Fredericktown, Missouri to Horace & Cora Smith. He served 20 years in the US Navy followed by 20 years at the US Postal Service. After retiring, he became an active member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, serving as President for several years.
Joseph married Rose in 1945 in Long Beach. Joseph and Rose had 2 children together, Pauline and Stanley, 2 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren. Rose died in 1994 and he remarried in 1995 to Rosita.
He was a proud World War II Veteran, an active grandfather, an avid St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan, and he loved history, reading, traveling, westerns, country music and tending to his garden.
Joseph is survived by daughter Pauline Roberts (73), 2 grandchildren, Erica Roberts-Phan (45) and Gregory Roberts (44), grandson-in-law Brian Phan (52), and 3 great grandchildren, Dylan Roberts (18), Madeline Phan (15), and Andrew Phan (13).
He is predeceased by both wives, Rose Lydia Smith (1994) and Rosita del Smith (2018), his son Stanley Ray Smith (1952), son-in-law Charles Roberts (2018), his parents Horace & Cora Smith, all 8 of his siblings (Normal, Bernice, Woodrow, Wilma, Velma, Wanda, Marcela, and unknown), and most of his friends.
His funeral will be held on July 20th, 2023 at 11am at Skylawn Funeral Home in San Mateo.
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