Obituary for Royal Arnold Smith
Royal A. Smith, 86 of Glenwood Springs passed away February 3, 2019 at home with family by his side. Royal was born September 17th, 1932 in Chicago Illinois to Raymond Ross & Olive (Afrotoli) Smith.
Royal attended the University of Colorado and was a national runner up champion wrestler. He was the student athlete of the year for CU in 1954. In 2006 he was inducted into the University of Colorado as a Living Legend. In 2009 he was honored as an Outstanding American by the Colorado Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Royal served in the US Navy as a physician aboard the USS Paul Revere. He practiced pediatrics in Denver before his residency in radiology. He moved to Glenwood Springs, CO in 1969 where he became the radiologist at Valley View Hospital. Following his retirement, the Imaging Center at Valley View was named in his honor as the Royal Smith Imaging Center. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends, encouraging his kids, coaching soccer, travelling, Lake Powell, and his dogs. He was well known for being honest, fair, and non-judgmental to all those he encountered. He was humble, truthful, and always loved a challenge, a true champion.
He is survived by his wife Deborah; sons Lynn (Karen) Smith of Danville, CA; Ross (Jessica) Smith of Wheat Ridge; daughters; Susan Claar of Grand Junction; Linda (Shawn) Rash of Grand Junction; Nicole (Dexter) Dacuma of Silt; Heidi (John) Brennan of W. Sacramento; Lea Damm (Art Warkentin) of New Castle; and Hillary (Tony) Chamberlain of New Castle; 28 grandchildren and more than 13 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Mark Allen; brother Raymond Ross, and his parents.
A viewing will be held 5-7pm on Friday February 15th at Farnum-Holt Mortuary.
A celebration of life will be held Saturday February 16th at 1pm at the Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs.
Royal attended the University of Colorado and was a national runner up champion wrestler. He was the student athlete of the year for CU in 1954. In 2006 he was inducted into the University of Colorado as a Living Legend. In 2009 he was honored as an Outstanding American by the Colorado Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Royal served in the US Navy as a physician aboard the USS Paul Revere. He practiced pediatrics in Denver before his residency in radiology. He moved to Glenwood Springs, CO in 1969 where he became the radiologist at Valley View Hospital. Following his retirement, the Imaging Center at Valley View was named in his honor as the Royal Smith Imaging Center. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends, encouraging his kids, coaching soccer, travelling, Lake Powell, and his dogs. He was well known for being honest, fair, and non-judgmental to all those he encountered. He was humble, truthful, and always loved a challenge, a true champion.
He is survived by his wife Deborah; sons Lynn (Karen) Smith of Danville, CA; Ross (Jessica) Smith of Wheat Ridge; daughters; Susan Claar of Grand Junction; Linda (Shawn) Rash of Grand Junction; Nicole (Dexter) Dacuma of Silt; Heidi (John) Brennan of W. Sacramento; Lea Damm (Art Warkentin) of New Castle; and Hillary (Tony) Chamberlain of New Castle; 28 grandchildren and more than 13 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Mark Allen; brother Raymond Ross, and his parents.
A viewing will be held 5-7pm on Friday February 15th at Farnum-Holt Mortuary.
A celebration of life will be held Saturday February 16th at 1pm at the Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs.