On the evening of Friday, Jan. 20, Inauguration Day, another U.S. Air Force pilot left formation and flew into the sunset. Colonel Lawrence Donald Goldsmith was 91 years old.
Mr. Goldsmith will be buried with military honors at 11 a.m., Monday, Feb. 13, at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, 5810 Midway Road, Dixon.
Mr. Goldsmith was born April 17, 1925, in Kelliher, Minn. to George and Myrtle Goldsmith. He grew up in Canada, skating on frozen ponds, which led to a lifelong love of ice hockey. As a young man he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps because he wanted to fly airplanes. WWII was raging, and Mr. Goldsmith narrowly missed deployment overseas when the war came to a close, but he chose to make the military his career. He served with the Army of Occupation in Korea and the Vietnam War, retiring in 1977 from Travis AFB in Fairfield. Mr. Goldsmith was experienced at flying numerous prop and jet aircraft.
While stationed in Texas, Mr. Goldsmith met Jean Kuehl of Waco at a dance. They married April 3, 1950 at the Methodist church in Waco, and Jean joined him on many of his transfers
throughout the world, from Hawaii to Washington D.C. to Japan. They had three children: Gary, Debra, and Randy. When the Vietnam War separated Mr. Goldsmith from his family, they communicated through letters and cassette tapes, which Jean carefully wrapped and saved.
Mr. Goldsmith wanted his children to value education so he completed his bachelor’s degree in political science, with a minor in philosophy, at Sophia International University while the family lived in Tokyo, Japan. He would take the train to classes after work and return home after 10 p.m.
Mr. Goldsmith was a Reagan Republican who loved his country and respected the Armed Forces, but his love of family was even greater. He traveled extensively with Jean, filling a bookshelf of photo albums with pictures from their cruises.
For 30 years, Mr. Goldsmith served as president of the 3701 Blackwood Association/Paradise Time Shares in South Lake Tahoe. He liked cycling, hiking, camping, and downhill skiing in the Sierra Nevada. He skied his last run at age 80. He thoroughly enjoyed family gatherings, leading his grandchildren in singing “God Bless America” whenever turkey was served at dinner, playing Pictionary with the grandkids, and going “kicker dancing” in Texas with the cousins.
In his retirement, he helped his son Randy build a backyard deck and fence, rode bikes and downhill skied with son Gary, and jumped at the chance to drive down to Irvine to watch the grandkids when their parents traveled. When baby Amelia arrived, he doted on her, following her growth and first steps on his iPad. Mr. Goldsmith will be missed.
Survivors include Mr. Goldsmith’s wife, Jean, of Fairfield; son, Gary (Cheryl), of Fairfield; daughter, Debra (Charlie Glabe), of Irvine; grand-daughter, Heather Glabe (Matt Haines), of Encinitas; grandsons, Jeffrey Glabe and Colin Glabe of Irvine; and great-granddaughter, Amelia Haines of Encinitas.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his son, Randy; and his sister, Lorraine Peterson.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association; donatenow.heart.org, or the American Cancer Society ;w.w.w.cancer.org
Source: Bryan-Braker Funeral Home
Mr. Goldsmith will be buried with military honors at 11 a.m., Monday, Feb. 13, at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, 5810 Midway Road, Dixon.
Mr. Goldsmith was born April 17, 1925, in Kelliher, Minn. to George and Myrtle Goldsmith. He grew up in Canada, skating on frozen ponds, which led to a lifelong love of ice hockey. As a young man he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps because he wanted to fly airplanes. WWII was raging, and Mr. Goldsmith narrowly missed deployment overseas when the war came to a close, but he chose to make the military his career. He served with the Army of Occupation in Korea and the Vietnam War, retiring in 1977 from Travis AFB in Fairfield. Mr. Goldsmith was experienced at flying numerous prop and jet aircraft.
While stationed in Texas, Mr. Goldsmith met Jean Kuehl of Waco at a dance. They married April 3, 1950 at the Methodist church in Waco, and Jean joined him on many of his transfers
throughout the world, from Hawaii to Washington D.C. to Japan. They had three children: Gary, Debra, and Randy. When the Vietnam War separated Mr. Goldsmith from his family, they communicated through letters and cassette tapes, which Jean carefully wrapped and saved.
Mr. Goldsmith wanted his children to value education so he completed his bachelor’s degree in political science, with a minor in philosophy, at Sophia International University while the family lived in Tokyo, Japan. He would take the train to classes after work and return home after 10 p.m.
Mr. Goldsmith was a Reagan Republican who loved his country and respected the Armed Forces, but his love of family was even greater. He traveled extensively with Jean, filling a bookshelf of photo albums with pictures from their cruises.
For 30 years, Mr. Goldsmith served as president of the 3701 Blackwood Association/Paradise Time Shares in South Lake Tahoe. He liked cycling, hiking, camping, and downhill skiing in the Sierra Nevada. He skied his last run at age 80. He thoroughly enjoyed family gatherings, leading his grandchildren in singing “God Bless America” whenever turkey was served at dinner, playing Pictionary with the grandkids, and going “kicker dancing” in Texas with the cousins.
In his retirement, he helped his son Randy build a backyard deck and fence, rode bikes and downhill skied with son Gary, and jumped at the chance to drive down to Irvine to watch the grandkids when their parents traveled. When baby Amelia arrived, he doted on her, following her growth and first steps on his iPad. Mr. Goldsmith will be missed.
Survivors include Mr. Goldsmith’s wife, Jean, of Fairfield; son, Gary (Cheryl), of Fairfield; daughter, Debra (Charlie Glabe), of Irvine; grand-daughter, Heather Glabe (Matt Haines), of Encinitas; grandsons, Jeffrey Glabe and Colin Glabe of Irvine; and great-granddaughter, Amelia Haines of Encinitas.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his son, Randy; and his sister, Lorraine Peterson.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association; donatenow.heart.org, or the American Cancer Society ;w.w.w.cancer.org
Source: Bryan-Braker Funeral Home
On the evening of Friday, Jan. 20, Inauguration Day, another U.S. Air Force pilot left formation and flew into the sunset. Colonel Lawrence Donald Goldsmith was 91 years old.
Mr. Goldsmith will be buried with military honors at 11 a.m., Monday, Feb. 13, at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, 5810 Midway Road, Dixon.
Mr. Goldsmith was born April 17, 1925, in Kelliher, Minn. to George and Myrtle Goldsmith. He grew up in Canada, skating on frozen ponds, which led to a lifelong love of ice hockey. As a young man he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps because he wanted to fly airplanes. WWII was raging, and Mr. Goldsmith narrowly missed deployment overseas when the war came to a close, but he chose to make the military his career. He served with the Army of Occupation in Korea and the Vietnam War, retiring in 1977 from Travis AFB in Fairfield. Mr. Goldsmith was experienced at flying numerous prop and jet aircraft.
While stationed in Texas, Mr. Goldsmith met Jean Kuehl of Waco at a dance. They married April 3, 1950 at the Methodist church in Waco, and Jean joined him on many of his transfers
throughout the world, from Hawaii to Washington D.C. to Japan. They had three children: Gary, Debra, and Randy. When the Vietnam War separated Mr. Goldsmith from his family, they communicated through letters and cassette tapes, which Jean carefully wrapped and saved.
Mr. Goldsmith wanted his children to value education so he completed his bachelor’s degree in political science, with a minor in philosophy, at Sophia International University while the family lived in Tokyo, Japan. He would take the train to classes after work and return home after 10 p.m.
Mr. Goldsmith was a Reagan Republican who loved his country and respected the Armed Forces, but his love of family was even greater. He traveled extensively with Jean, filling a bookshelf of photo albums with pictures from their cruises.
For 30 years, Mr. Goldsmith served as president of the 3701 Blackwood Association/Paradise Time Shares in South Lake Tahoe. He liked cycling, hiking, camping, and downhill skiing in the Sierra Nevada. He skied his last run at age 80. He thoroughly enjoyed family gatherings, leading his grandchildren in singing “God Bless America” whenever turkey was served at dinner, playing Pictionary with the grandkids, and going “kicker dancing” in Texas with the cousins.
In his retirement, he helped his son Randy build a backyard deck and fence, rode bikes and downhill skied with son Gary, and jumped at the chance to drive down to Irvine to watch the grandkids when their parents traveled. When baby Amelia arrived, he doted on her, following her growth and first steps on his iPad. Mr. Goldsmith will be missed.
Survivors include Mr. Goldsmith’s wife, Jean, of Fairfield; son, Gary (Cheryl), of Fairfield; daughter, Debra (Charlie Glabe), of Irvine; grand-daughter, Heather Glabe (Matt Haines), of Encinitas; grandsons, Jeffrey Glabe and Colin Glabe of Irvine; and great-granddaughter, Amelia Haines of Encinitas.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his son, Randy; and his sister, Lorraine Peterson.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association; donatenow.heart.org, or the American Cancer Society ;w.w.w.cancer.org
Source: Bryan-Braker Funeral Home
Mr. Goldsmith will be buried with military honors at 11 a.m., Monday, Feb. 13, at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery, 5810 Midway Road, Dixon.
Mr. Goldsmith was born April 17, 1925, in Kelliher, Minn. to George and Myrtle Goldsmith. He grew up in Canada, skating on frozen ponds, which led to a lifelong love of ice hockey. As a young man he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps because he wanted to fly airplanes. WWII was raging, and Mr. Goldsmith narrowly missed deployment overseas when the war came to a close, but he chose to make the military his career. He served with the Army of Occupation in Korea and the Vietnam War, retiring in 1977 from Travis AFB in Fairfield. Mr. Goldsmith was experienced at flying numerous prop and jet aircraft.
While stationed in Texas, Mr. Goldsmith met Jean Kuehl of Waco at a dance. They married April 3, 1950 at the Methodist church in Waco, and Jean joined him on many of his transfers
throughout the world, from Hawaii to Washington D.C. to Japan. They had three children: Gary, Debra, and Randy. When the Vietnam War separated Mr. Goldsmith from his family, they communicated through letters and cassette tapes, which Jean carefully wrapped and saved.
Mr. Goldsmith wanted his children to value education so he completed his bachelor’s degree in political science, with a minor in philosophy, at Sophia International University while the family lived in Tokyo, Japan. He would take the train to classes after work and return home after 10 p.m.
Mr. Goldsmith was a Reagan Republican who loved his country and respected the Armed Forces, but his love of family was even greater. He traveled extensively with Jean, filling a bookshelf of photo albums with pictures from their cruises.
For 30 years, Mr. Goldsmith served as president of the 3701 Blackwood Association/Paradise Time Shares in South Lake Tahoe. He liked cycling, hiking, camping, and downhill skiing in the Sierra Nevada. He skied his last run at age 80. He thoroughly enjoyed family gatherings, leading his grandchildren in singing “God Bless America” whenever turkey was served at dinner, playing Pictionary with the grandkids, and going “kicker dancing” in Texas with the cousins.
In his retirement, he helped his son Randy build a backyard deck and fence, rode bikes and downhill skied with son Gary, and jumped at the chance to drive down to Irvine to watch the grandkids when their parents traveled. When baby Amelia arrived, he doted on her, following her growth and first steps on his iPad. Mr. Goldsmith will be missed.
Survivors include Mr. Goldsmith’s wife, Jean, of Fairfield; son, Gary (Cheryl), of Fairfield; daughter, Debra (Charlie Glabe), of Irvine; grand-daughter, Heather Glabe (Matt Haines), of Encinitas; grandsons, Jeffrey Glabe and Colin Glabe of Irvine; and great-granddaughter, Amelia Haines of Encinitas.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his son, Randy; and his sister, Lorraine Peterson.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association; donatenow.heart.org, or the American Cancer Society ;w.w.w.cancer.org
Source: Bryan-Braker Funeral Home
Inscription
COLONEL USAF
KOREA VIETNAM
GONE BUT NOT
FORGOTTEN
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
