Dorothy Smith left us peacefully on April 5, 2025, to join her waiting family.

Dorothy was born on Nov. 7, 1928, to Edwin J. and Lylyan E. Mossinger in Fullerton, California. She was the youngest of three children.

Her parents soon moved to Huntington Beach, California to raise their family on Main Street.

One of Dorothy’s favorite memories growing up was the Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade, which formed right in front of her house.

While she was in high school Dorothy was in the High School Marching Band. She also was a volunteer for the Aircraft Warning Service during World War II. She explained that she had to identify and report all makes and models of aircrafts flying along the beach front.

Dorothy attended Fullerton Community College out of high school, then transferred to UC Santa Barbara in 1948 where she met her future husband Jack Smith at the school’s Get Acquainted Dance.

Dorothy graduated in June 1950 from UCSB with an English/librarian degree.

Dorothy and Jack married on Sept. 3, 1950. They then headed to UCLA so Jack could finish his degree in microbiology. After Jack graduated from UCLA they came back to Santa Barbara so Jack could join his father Eldon Sr. in the family construction business.

Dorothy took a job at the Santa Barbara Public Library. She was later instrumental in starting the libraries for the elementary schools in Santa Barbara in the 1960s.

In the mid 1950s Dorothy became an active stay-at-home mother. Don and Karen kept her busy with school, music lessons, PTA, Girl Scouts, etc.

In 1969 Dorothy started working with Jack when he took over his father’s business, Eldon Smith & Son.

In the mid 1970s Jack and Dorothy built a vacation home at Lake Nacimiento. She spent many enjoyable weekends and holidays with her family at Lake Nacimiento.

In her retirement years, Dorothy took up oil painting, taking classes from SBCC Extended Learning. She became quite good, and in her home many of her painting were displayed.

Dorothy and Jack were able to enjoy traveling nationally and internationally with Friendship Force.

Dorothy was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church.

Dorothy is preceded in death by her husband Alvin “Jack” Smith; parents Edwin Mossinger and Lylyan Mossinger (Nicoles); sister Bertha E. (Mossinger) Pupka; and brother Edwin H. Mossinger.

She is survived by her two children Don (Nancy) Smith and Karen (Jim) Torgeson; four grandsons Joe Fletcher (Renee), Garret Smith (Jason), Ty (Sarah) Smith, and Ryan Torgeson; three great grandsons and one great granddaughter.

A private family service will be held at a later date.