Dr. Cecil Smith
At the age of 90, Dr. Cecil Smith passed peacefully into the presence of his Lord on Monday afternoon, April 16, 2012. He had spent the last year of his life as a resident at the Oak Bay Lodge nursing home in Victoria, British Columbia.
Dr. Smith was born on November 22, 1921 near Mumbai, India. He graduated from medical school in Chennai, India in 1946 and joined ARAMCO as a general surgeon in 1954 after spending seven years working in mission hospitals in northern India. In 1959, he married his wife, Dorcas, and spent the next twenty three years in Dhahran working and raising their two daughters, Suzanne and Sarah.
The entirety of Dr. Smith's career in Arabia was spent at the Dhahran Health Center where he was loved and respected both as a doctor and a friend. Over the years, many a pair of ears were pierced in the dining room of the Smith home on 6th street. Dr. Smith was also an active member of the Dhahran Protestant Fellowship.
A bad back ultimately led to back surgery in 1980 and subsequent retirement from ARAMCO in 1981. The Smith's immigrated to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada where Dr. Smith resided until his death. He leaves to mourn Dorcas, his precious wife of 52 years, and two daughters, Suzanne DeJong of Everett, Washington and Sarah Smith of Victoria, B.C. Many other friends and family members will also fondly remember him.
In his retirement, Dr. Smith enjoyed tending his numerous rose bushes, apple and peach trees. Along with keeping up to date with all the tennis tournaments, he also developed a love for a new sport in Canada, curling, and watched it regularly on TV. The winter months were usually spent with needle and thread still in hand working on a variety of cross-stitch and needle point projects.
A celebration of Dr. Smith's life was held on April 28, 2012 at Oaklands Chapel, Victoria, B.C. In lieu of flowers, donations were gratefully accepted to Camp Imadene (PO Box 374 Mesachie Lake, B.C. V0R 2N0 Canada - in memory of Dr. Smith). Mrs. Smith and Sarah may be contacted at 4395 Greenlea Place, Victoria, B.C. V8Z 6N1 Canada or sarahlsmith@shaw.ca.