Dr. Maurice Delta Smith

Dr. Maurice Delta Smith, age 84, of Merlin, Oregon, died Thursday, January 27, 2011 at Highland House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

A celebration of his life will be held in Whittier, California, where he and his family resided for fifty years. The ceremony will be at the East Whittier Woman’s Club on February 11th at 4:30 p.m. Interment will be at Rose Hills Cemetery in Whittier. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

He was born October 26, 1926 in Ann Arbor, Michigan to Maurice Delta Smith, Sr. and Emily Elizabeth Smith. He earned his BA and DDS degrees at the University of Michigan where he was a member of Psi Omega Dental Fraternity as well as the varsity wrestling team, achieving the Big Ten Championship in his weight. He served in the United States Air Force from 1953 to 1955 at the rank of Captain.

He then established his dental practice in Whittier, specializing in pediatric dentistry. During his fifty years of practice he was active in local and state levels of the California Dental Association. He was a Fellow in the American College of Dentistry, an honorary society, and a member of the California Society of Pediatric Dentists. He received an honorary Service Award from the East Whittier PTA for his many contributions to the dental education programs throughout the school district.

On September 4, 1949, he married Marilyn Wanty who survives in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He especially enjoyed involving his four children in various sports activities, including golf, snow skiing, hunting, trap and skeet shooting, back packing and flying. He belonged to the Josephine County Sportsman’s Association, the Skeet Club.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, Dr. Deborah Smith (Dr. J. Ron Nelson) of Lincoln, Nebraska, Dr. Craig Smith (Lisa) of Hemet, California, Dr. David Smith (Dr. Donna Benson) of Newport Beach, California, Martha Smith (I. Stephen Van Wart) of Danville, California; eleven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; as well as a brother, Dr. Kingston Smith of Amarillo, Texas and six nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death was a sister, Jean Jessop Jones, and a brother, Dr. Warren Jessop.