Barbara Arnold Smith

Barbara Arnold Smith, age 94, passed peacefully into the arms of her Heavenly Father and her husband Ralph Briggs Smith on Thursday, March 8, surrounded by her loving family.

Barbara was born on April 23, 1923 in Santa Monica, California and attended Venice High School. In her teenage years Barbara became acquainted with her brother, David’s, best neighborhood friend, Ralph Smith. Barbara and Ralph fell in love and became engaged to be married. Their marriage plans were put on hold by World War ll, as Ralph enlisted in the Navy and served as a gunnery officer on the U.S.S. Grayson in the South Pacific. Following the war, Ralph returned home and he and Barbara were married.

Ralph and Barbara lived in Pacific Grove, California for eight years and then Monterey for another five years while Ralph served as dean of students at Monterey Peninsula Junior College. During this time Ralph and Barbara brought three children into the world: John, Mark, and Anne.

In 1963 Barbara and her family moved to Provo as Ralph joined the faculty at Brigham Young University, where he later became dean of the David O’McKay College of Education. Barbara attended Brigham Young University and earned a bachelor’s degree in Special Education. In 1975 Barbara, Ralph, and their three children were sealed together as a family for all eternity in the Provo Temple.

Barbara loved traveling with the family throughout the United States and Europe. She was an avid reader, devouring mystery novels and biographies, and participated for many years in several monthly book clubs with her friends. She also enjoyed watching football and would have to turn off the television if BYU or the Green Bay Packers were losing in the final moments of a game. She was known for her quick wit and loving wisdom. She always maintained a positive attitude and counseled her family to count their blessings.

Barbara was pre-deceased by her parents Verne Lester Arnold and Annie Edna Anderson Arnold, her brothers David and Dennis Arnold, and her sister Lois Arnold Findlay.

She is survived by her three children John Arnold Smith (Joanne Lee Griffiths Smith), Mark Arnold Smith (Becky Ringwelski), and Anne Elizabeth Smith Jackson (Andrew Kent Jackson), seven grandchildren Elizabeth Boehme, Bryson Smith, Abbey Clark, Rebecca Lee, and Cassandra Darley, James Jackson, and Jessica Walker. Barbara and Ralph were also blessed to have nine great-grandchildren along with three more that will be arriving soon.

Barbara is dearly loved by her family. Her spirit of peace, love, and service has blessed many lives and is being felt by her grateful posterity.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, March 12, 2018 at the Provo Peak 2nd Ward Chapel, 965 North Locust Lane, Provo, Utah. Friends may call from 10-10:45 a.m. prior to services. Interment, Provo City Cemetery. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.bergmortuary.com.