Obituary of Roger Williams Smith

Heaven called Roger Williams Smith, Jr. (86) of Littleton, Colorado and he passed peacefully into the arms of his Lord and Savior on January 13, 2023, surrounded by family. Roger was born in San Francisco, California on July 23, 1936, to Jane Nash and Roger W. Smith, Sr.  His mother wrote of his birth, “This is the most wonderful day of my life.”  

Roger and his sister, Nancy grew up in southern California, where he developed a love for the ocean, learning to swim and body surf, and catching abalone. He attended Army Navy Academy in Carlsbad, and his favorite class was surfing.  His friend recalled that Roger had a "wonderful personality that drew people to him." He graduated from Monrovia High School then attended the University of Southern California with roommate Alan Ladd, Jr.

Roger married Norma Shoberg and had two children, Roger and Lisa.  With his young family, Roger followed his father to Colorado, where he was introduced to his life’s work in title insurance, then real estate and development. A man of many interests and talents, he took on part ownership in a Cessna airplane and took flying lessons. In time, his marriage failed, and he changed direction. Still drawn to the ocean, he moved back to California for a short time, bought a 57 foot Chris Craft yacht, and skippered it up and down the coast, down to Puerta Vallarta, Mexico and out to Catalina Island multiple times. 

Roger returned to Colorado and met Samantha Dreman, a single mom with three children and they married in April of 1976. Roger welcomed the children and treated them as his own and the family moved to Lookout Mountain.  During their first 2 years of marriage, they committed their lives to Jesus Christ. They opened their home to Bible Studies, and became involved in the Christian Community. During their marriage they enjoyed the mountains, traveling, enjoying time with family, friends and board games. Roger loved his work and finally retired at 85. 

Roger is survived by his wife Samantha Smith of 46 years, his son Roger Smith III (Carol Ann) and his daughter, Lisa Andrews, his step-children, Tracy Minges (Richard), Tamra Palmer (Jim), Scott Dreman (Maureen) and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister Nancy Telley, and son Curtis Smith.

Roger was diagnosed with a rare and painful disease Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP), in his early 30’s.  This rare disease affects 1 in 100,000 people. The family is requesting in lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the CIDP Foundation (https://www.gbs-cidp.org/donate/)

I thought of you today, but that is nothing new.  I thought about you yesterday and days before that too.  I think of you in silence. I often speak your name. All I have are memories and your picture in a frame.  Your memory is a keepsake from which I'll never part.  God has you in His arms, I have you in my heart.  

God’s promise of comfort and hope.  Jesus said, " I am the resurrection and the life.  Those who believe in Me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die." John 11:25, 26

Celebration of Life will take place at Riverside Church, 2401 Alcott Street, Denver, Colorado on March 23, 2023 at 1pm.