Eldon David 'Dave' Smith, 72

Eldon David "Dave" Smith, 72, passed away in Kalispell on April 1, 2015.

Dave was born Aug. 10, 1942 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was the fourth of nine children born to Russell and Ruth (Steinbacher) Smith. His family moved to San Francisco when he was 3 and lived there until Dave was 10, when they moved to Sebastopol, California.

He dropped out of Analy High School in 1960 to join the U.S. Air Force where he achieved his GED. He eventually went to night school and earned his diploma from Petaluma High School. 

Dave was a kind and quiet man. He had interesting stories to tell, if you could get him to tell one. He also had a unique sense of humor, and it is fitting that he passed on April Fools Day!

Dave had worked as a dairyman, construction worker, warehouseman for an insulation company and a landscaper. He was a member of the Kalispell Moose Lodge.

Dave enjoyed trains, hippos, history (mainly Civil War and World War II), Disney movies, NCIS, Westerns and Sherlock Holmes. He also loved walking on the beaches of southern California. He had quite a collection of seashells and rocks he'd picked up on his adventures.

He was married in 1985 in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

Dave is survived by his wife, Barbara Hunter; daughters, Jeanette Avalos, Julie Black, Samantha King and son-in-law Alex King; and stepson, Todd Hunter; grandchildren, Eric and Brian Worden and Jessica, Vanessa and Kerissa Black, Sarah, Jeremy and Emilee Kerley, and Jacob Hunter; great-grandchildren, Jude, Donald Jr., Pyper, Nathan and Ely; sisters, Theresa and Evelyn; and brothers, Mitch and Tim.

Dave was preceded in death by his daughter, Angelique Turner.

To send a note of condolence to the family, please go to www.buffalohillfh.com. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.