Wanda Aday Smith

Wanda Aday Smith(1943 - 2017)

In memory of a faithful daughter, mother, sister, wife.


Wanda Aday Smith passed away Friday, May 13, 2017. Wanda was born to parents George and Pearl Aday in Dixon, California on December 5th 1943.

She was raised in central California primarily in the town of Maricopa, California where she graduated from Maricopa High School then later attended Taft Community College in Taft, California.

In the mid 1960s Wanda and her sister Conda moved to Santa Barbara where they both worked in retail. In 1964 following the death of their mother the sisters took custody of their four year old brother Leroy Aday and raised him into his early adult years.

In June 1968 Wanda married Richard T. (Dick) Smith in Santa Barbara. Wanda worked at Lerner Shops clothing store where she started as a window dresser and was promoted through the ranks to the manager position, becoming the youngest Lerner manager in the state of California. Dick was a Deputy Sheriff with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's department where he worked until retiring in 1991 at the rank of Sergeant. Wanda later went to work at Hallmark shops in Santa Barbara and Goleta, California where again she was store manager until her retirement in 1992.

On June 6, 1973 their daughter Julie was born in Goleta, California where she attended schools in the Santa Barbara Public School System, graduating from San Marcos High School. She continued her education in the field of nursing and has been a nurse for the past 20 plus years.

Dick and Wanda retired in 1991 and moved to Durango in 1992 where Wanda worked as co-manager of the London Fog store and later worked at The Galloping Goose gift shop. Dick worked at the La Plata County Sheriff's Office as a Civilian Civil Process Server from 1994 to 2006.

The Smiths enjoyed travel and visited several states including Alaska and Hawaii and several countries including Canada, Mexico, England, Scotland, Panama, Costa Rica, and several Caribbean islands.

Wanda had many interests beginning with God and family and including cooking, gardening and reading as well as the fun filled monthly get together with the ladies in her Bunco group.

Wanda is survived by her husband of 49 years Dick Smith of Durango, their daughter Julie, sister Conda, brothers George and Leroy Aday, three grandsons and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents George and Pearl Aday, infant sister Regina and brother Robert Aday who was killed in combat in 1969 while serving in Vietnam with the Army's 25th Infantry Division. He died trying to save a wounded soldier and was posthumously awarded the Silver Star and his fourth Purple Heart.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, May 23, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at Florida Mesa Presbyterian Church, 1024 County Road 230, Durango CO, with Pastor Dan Straw officiating.

In Lieu of flowers friends may want to remember Hospice of Mercy.