Kern County CA Archives Obituaries.....Smith , Lucille Marie September 12, 2005 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: K T bluewolf@onemain.com September 16, 2005, 12:21 am The Bakersfield Californian Smith, Lucille Marie 1917 - 2005 Lucille Marie Smith Nov. 21, 1917 - Sept. 12, 2005 Graveside services will be held Friday, September 16, 2005, 11:00 a.m., at Greenlawn Memorial Park, 3700 River Blvd., Bakersfield, CA. Lucille was born in Chicago, IL, on November 21, 1917, and moved to Los Angeles in 1927. While growing up in Los Angeles she enjoyed an active outdoor life as a Sea Scout (Girl Scout Mariners) and developed a love of sailing and camping. At age 10, her musical parents surprised her with her first accordion and she began lessons, which led to a lifelong love of music and an interesting, event- filled career performing throughout the western U.S. While working out of Los Angeles, she had her own weekly radio show Continental Melodies with Lucille & Sylvia on station KMPC in Beverly Hills. In the early 40s, a new film and recording technique was being experimented with in Los Angeles. Lucille and her combo made several of these jukebox videos in Hollywood with Merle Travis and Carolyn Cotton. Throughout the war years, Lucille performed at many USO and Officers Clubs. She met her future husband, Earl (Smitty), in Tucson, AZ, while he was a Army Air Corp Lt. training for future B-24 duty as a pilot in England. Little did I know, she wrote in her memoirs, That one day, after the war, that good-looking fly-boy would become my husband. Earl and Lucille married at San Gabriel Mission on April 12, 1947 and moved to Bakersfield. Earl, a building contractor, built their first house in the potato fields near the airport. After a little instruction, Lucille actually helped shingle the roof on their new home! Their family grew and Lucille became actively involved in the PTA, Lady Lions, Boat & Ski Club. She and Smitty shared their passion for the outdoors: water skiing, boating, traveling and backpacking with their family and friends. As a Lifetime Member of both the Los Angeles and Bakersfield Musicians Unions, she taught music privately and would still play a gig on occasion. Lucille later became involved as a tutor for the Kern Adult Literacy Council. She taught for over 23 years, was named Tutor of the Year, and was very proud that many of her students successfully passed their U.S. Citizenship tests. Lucille was publicity chairwoman for many of her organizations and was recognized with awards from the Press Club. She was also active in Les Vendredis and Square Ys Dance Clubs, Kern Astronomical Society, Altar Society of Christ the King Catholic Church, and Friends of the Bryce C. Rathbun Library. She is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, Earl, and their three children, Barry Smith of Seattle, WA, Cathy Hamann and husband, Steve of Cobb, CA, and Cindy Smith and Jan Dunlap of Bakersfield, CA; grandchildren, Matthew and Jaclyn Hamann. The family wishes to thank Ruth Patterson for her devotion and compassion in Lucilles home care. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Kern Adult Literacy Council, 331 18th St. Bakersfield, CA 93301. Greenlawn Mortuary Funeral Directors Legacy.com Published in the Bakersfield Californian on 9/15/2005. Additional Comments: Volunteer submission - No relation to deceased. Obituaries http://www.legacy.com/bakersfield/LegacyHome.asp File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/kern/obits/s/smith77gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cafiles/ File size: 3.9 Kb