Roland E Smith

Roland E. “Smitty” Smith, of Gresham OR died August 5, 2014.

He had just celebrated his 90th birthday. Roland Smith was born June 18, 1924, in Detroit Michigan, to Russel and Lillian Smith. He grew up in Clawson, Michigan a small suburb of Detroit.

He grew up in the depression. He went hunting with his dad to help feed the family. He was active in the Boy Scouts and was an avid reader

He was a WWII veteran serving in the Army, principally in Italy. Traveling by train from Michigan, he chronicled his trip west. He fell in love with Oregon and made it his home for much of his life.

He earned three degrees starting in 1950 when he received his A.B. degree from Pacific University in Forest Grove, OR. On June 9, 1956 he married Carol May Hargett on her parents’ Ranch near La Grande, OR. In 1960 he obtained his M.A. Degree from the University of Oregon. He worked as a teacher in Enterprise OR. from 1951 until 1964. In 1968, he and Carol moved to Lubbock, Texas where he was a Political Science professor at Texas Tech. He earned his Ph.D from the University of Oregon in 1970. Carol was the Reference Librarian, at Texas Tech.

In 1986, after retirement, they moved to Gresham, Oregon. Roland’s principal hobbies were fishing and extending his skills as a photographer. He enjoyed playing bridge, reading and discussing current topics with his many friends.

He was an active member of the Gresham Elks Lodge 1805. He participated in the club’s activities and was a leader. He was also active in the following Photography Clubs: Photo Club (4 C’s Columbia Council of Camera Clubs), PSA Photography Society of America, Portland Photographic Society and the Columbia Gorge Camera Club.

He is survived by nephew Gary Smith of Port Angeles, WA; nieces Cheryl Smith of Au Gres, MI, Laura Cupp, and Terri Sharp of Rochester Hills, MI, his sister in law, Helen Hargett of Toledo, OR, Neices Kim (Ron Peck) of Bend, OR, Mary Kay Hernandez of Albany, OR, Kurt (Corrina) Hargett of Newport, OR and many grand-nieces and nephews. He had many life long friends who were family to him, as well. He will be greatly missed by so many.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Roger, his sister Louise and his wife Carol.

A celebration of his life will be: TBA