Bruce Smith Obituary (1929 - 2012)

Bruce Smith passed away early Tuesday, April 24, 2012, peacefully in his sleep at home. Born in Murray, Utah February 13, 1929 to John Henry and Emma Thelma Catlin. Bruce spent his boyhood years in Murray. During his years at Murray High School, he sang the lead in their operetta, played varsity football and was a speaker at both the seminary and high school graduation ceremonies. Bruce married the love of his life, Beverly Bishop, on January 18, 1952 in the Salt Lake Temple. During the Korean War, he was an Army Electronics Instructor at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. He was Manager of the IBM installations at UCLA and Manager of an IBM facility in Poughkeepsie, New York. He was Senior Program Manager in IBM’s Advanced Systems Development Laboratory at Los Gatos, California. He was the first President and a Director on the Board of Management Systems Corporation in Salt Lake City and a member of the board of The Deseret Management Corporation. He was a Senior Vice President at American National Insurance Company in Galveston, Texas. He was in the Cabinet of Governor Scott Matheson as Director of Systems Planning and Computing for the State of Utah. He was Engineering Vice-president at Eaton-Kenway Company in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was President and Chief Operating Officer of Software A G of North America in Reston, Virginia. He was President of Data Base Utility Group in Des Moines, Washington. He was Director of Systems and Computing at Beneficial Life Insurance Company in Salt Lake City and retired in 1996. During retirement years, he served as Chairman of the Murray City Economic Development Advisory Board. He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in numerous callings including five Bishoprics, Bishop in Los Gatos, California and Bishop in La Marque, Texas. He served an Eastern States Mission, 1949-1951, a Southern States Home Mission in Huntsville, Alabama in 1952-53 and a Murray, Utah South Stake Church Service Mission with his wife in 1997. He gave immeasurable time to genealogical research. His family was always his great love. His life was defined by countless acts of quiet service to others, quietly lifting burdens, sharing his talents and making the world a better place wherever he could. Bruce is survived by his wife of 60 years, Beverly Bishop Smith; six children, Teri (John) Clarke, Craig (Allyson) Smith, Corey (Sybil) Smith, Cathy (Jon) Bass, Eileen (Joe) Christensen, Brad (Kristy) Smith; 23 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and one newly arrived great-great-grandson. Words cannot adequately express the love and gratitude his family has for the love and example Bruce has shown throughout his life. He will be sorely missed and always cherished. A Memorial Service honoring Bruce will be held on Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 11:00 AM in the River Oaks Stake Center, 8950 South 1300 West, W. Jordan, Utah.