Barry Andrew Smith

Barry Andrew Smith was born September 18, 1958, in Los Angeles, California. Barry moved with his parents to Rogue River Oregon in 1972. He attended Rogue River High School, graduating in 1976 and joined the Air Force right after graduation.

Along the way, Barry married Julie Liles, welcoming their baby daughter, Ruanna, in 1976. The family moved first to Lowry AFB in Denver Colorado and then to Nellis AFB in Las Vegas Nevada. He maintained the weapons guidance systems in the legacy F-4 Phantom fighter jets fueling his never ceasing curiosity about how things work. Following his stint in the AF, Barry made his way back to his favorite place, Rogue River. Here he met Lauri Parish in 1982. They were married in 1987.

It was in Rogue River that Barry made a choice that served him well for the remainder of his professional life, working for Rogue Valley Cablevision in 1980. This career took him to so many places – Rosamond, CA to build a brand-new cable system; Denver, CO to work for Tele-Communications, Inc, where Barry became the industry’s leading expert on drop cable and connectors. In that role, Barry created industry standards, many of which are still in place today.

The job he most enjoyed was teaching technicians about the ever-important drop cable system. Under his tutelage, technicians were not only taught the how’s and why’s of their job; they were also taught that the quality of their work was their “signature”, their personal mark on the customers’ experience. While living in Philadelphia, following his retirement he was writing technician training manuals for the Society of Telecommunications Engineers. This gave him immense gratification.

As a member of the SCTE, Barry created the annual Cable Tec Games. It was through these games, first held locally throughout the country and ultimately internationally, that technicians would showcase their skill in all aspects of cable TV installation and maintenance. The local winners would make it the national stage at the annual SCTE Cable Tec Expo, competing with other “best of the best” technicians, ultimately claiming a single champion.

Until 1998, Barry was an avid skier and slapped at golf (job requirement…he really hated it.) However, on his 40th birthday, Lauri presented him with a Harley Davidson Softail Custom motorcycle. Bear was in love! He rode all over the mountains in Colorado, made 9 trips to Sturgis SD to the rally, several long trips, always riding the bike with Lauri on the back. He always said that if you saw his bike on a trailer, call 911 because it was stolen. By the time Barry was no longer able to ride, he and his wife had racked up nearly 100,000 miles.

His other passion was river rafting. He grew up rafting the Rogue River. He rafted the Colorado River four times with his sister, Karen, who was working for the legendary Georgie White, “Woman of the River” (look her up…she was a fascinating woman).

Barry and Lauri again found their way back home to the Rogue Valley, settling into Grants Pass. He treasured reconnecting with old friends, especially his RRHS football buddies. He enjoyed sitting on the deck, having coffee every morning, gazing over the valley, feeling pretty satisfied with himself.

Barry is survived by his wife of 37 years, Lauri, his daughter Ruanna Smith, brother Charles Smith, and sister Karen (Larry) Carns. He was preceded in death by his mother, Madelyn, his brother Steven, and his father Walter.

A celebration of life will be held at Hull and Hull on September 16, 2023, at 10am.

Please share a memory of Barry in his Guestbook Below.