FARMINGTON – Allan LeForest Smith, 81, a lifelong resident of Farmington, passed at his home, peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday July 2, 2013, following a long illness.
Born Sept. 19, 1931, in Portland, he was the only child of David A. and Verlie (Libby) Smith. He was a 1949 graduate of Farmington High School and earned his degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Maine in 1953. He was a veteran, having served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict.
On April 8, 1961, he married Joanne Warburton in Hardwick, Mass. For 42 years, he was employed as a civil engineer for the Maine DOT. He maintained an active lifestyle during his retirement and volunteered many hours to benefit his beloved hometown community and the children who were privileged to call the western Maine area “home.”
Allan served on the MSAD 9 Board of Directors during the consolidation and building of Mt. Blue High School, the rebuilding of Wilton Academy, and the building of the Cascade Brook School. His volunteer efforts at MSAD 9 spanned from 1994-2012, where he could often be found reading to children, swimming with children at the fitness center, or broadening their educational experience in the LEGO League.
Allan volunteered many hours at Franklin Memorial Hospital working in the Emergency Room and at the escort desk until the fall of 2012. For 44 years he taught ski lessons at Titcomb Mountain ski area, encouraging new skiers and helping them perfect his graceful artistry of this sport. He also skied with the Special Olympics, helping many of them achieve their Olympic challenges.
He was a member of Old South Congregational Church serving on various church committees over the years and was clerk of the works for the construction of the Newman Wing. He was chair of the town of Farmington’s Transportation Advisory Committee, a member of the Farmington Historical Society, and served as trustee for the Farmington Public Library.
Allan was a 60-year member of Maine Lodge 20 as well as a member of the York Rite Bodies of Farmington serving as a commander in 1963 and 1998-2001. He was a member of other appended bodies in Maine, and as a member of the Kora Temple Shrine he chaperoned many children to the Shrine Circus.
Allan was a patron of the arts and an original member of the Sandy River Players, his last performance at 79 in “Comedy and Cocktails.”
His hobbies were “volunteering,” skiing, playing tennis with dear friends, fly fishing, reading, and most importantly, following the activities and delighting in the accomplishments of his children and grandchildren.
He is loved by his wife of 52 years, Joanne W. Smith of Farmington; their children: David W. Smith of Saco and Karen S. West and her husband, Steven West of Farmington; grandchildren: Alexandra Jean Brophy and her husband, Patric Brophy of Freeport, Matthew Allan West of Farmington and Marina Joanne West of Farmington; two step grandchildren: Aaron Hefler and Misharra Hefler, both of Saco; one great-granddaughter, Isabelle Grace Brophy of Freeport; and a large extended family.
Family and friends are invited to call at the Wiles Remembrance Center, 137 Farmington Falls Rd., (Rtes. 2 & 27) Farmington, Thursday July 18, from 6-8 p.m. Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon July 19, 3 p.m. from Old South Congregational Church, Main St., Farmington, with Rev. Alexis Fuller-Wright and Rev. Dr. Richard Waddell, AHCH Chaplain co-officiating. Full military honors will be provided by Camp Keyes at the conclusion of the church service. All are welcome to attend a family reception of comfort, hosted by the Old South Hospitality Committee in the church vestry, following services.
Committal services will be held Saturday morning, July 20 at 11 a.m. at Fairview Cemetery, Farmington. In consideration of his commitment to the enrichment of the lives of children, remembrance gifts may be given to either the Allan L. Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o Farmington Area Alumni Inc. PO Box 331 Farmington, Maine 04938 or to the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital 51 Blossom St. Boston, MA 02114. Tributes and condolences may be shared with his family on his memorial wall at www.wilesrc.com.
