David Hale Smith

David Hale Smith, beloved husband, father and grandfather, age 89, of Centennial, CO, passed away on December 4, 2025. He was born in Duncan, OK during the Great Depression on July 13, 1936, to George B.R. Smith II and Retta H. Smith. He graduated from Texarkana, TX High School in 1954, then attended Oklahoma University, where he earned a B.S. degree in Petroleum Engineering. Following graduation, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, where he completed boot camp at Camp Pendleton, CA in 1959. He went to work for Dowell in Perryton, TX in the oil patch in the Texas Panhandle later that year. He married Mary Kay Skelton, the love of his life on September 2, 1960, in Wichita, KS.

David joined Mobil Oil as a Petroleum Engineer in Great Bend, KS in 1963, where he worked for 30 years in Kansas, Wyoming, Oklahoma and Colorado, before retiring in 1993. After retirement, he enjoyed weekly breakfast meetings with other Mobil retirees. He loved playing golf and was an avid sports fan, especially for the OU Sooners and Denver Broncos. On football game days David could be seen wearing OU (colors crimson and cream) and Denver (navy and orange) jerseys, cheering on his teams in front of the TV set with family members.

He is survived by Mary Kay, his wife for 65 years, daughter Dee Ann Barnes, son Paul Smith, sister Nancy Bishop, brothers George Smith and Alan Smith, and grandchildren Jennifer Thomas and Jack Gause. He was proceeded in death by parents George and Retta Smith, daughter Cathy, and grandson Conner Barnes.

David was the seasoned, elder statesman for his family, always available to support and guide us with wisdom and compassion for life’s issues that we faced. He was a faithful believer in Jesus Christ and exhibited Christ-like qualities of kindness and caring for those in need. He was a model of the highest integrity for family and friends.

A memorial service to celebrate David’s life will be held at Littleton United Methodist Church on January 17, 2026, at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution may be made to American Heart Association.