Glenn Pearman Smith

Glenn Pearman Smith went home to the Lord on November 12, 2017. He was born in 1925 to Glenn Allison and Mary Emerson Smith in Mill City, OR. Glenn’s family moved to California during the Depression. In 1942, they moved to Rosemead, California, where he graduated from El Monte High School. During WWII, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, 102nd Infantry (Ozark Division). He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for carrying a wounded American Officer out of a German mine field. After the war, he attended the Military Tribunal at Nuremberg where he witnessed former Nazi leaders Goering, Keitel, and Hess stand trial for war crimes. Upon returning to California, he attended Occidental College, graduating summa cum laude and a Masters Degree from Claremont College. He married Kathleen Hudson in 1949 and began his career in education as a Junior High School teacher. Then, he accepted a position at San Francisco State University as Assistant to the President, and later becoming Vice President of Student Services, during the tumultuous 1960’s. In 1973, he became Chancellor-Superintendent of the three community colleges in the San Mateo County Community College District, retiring as Chancellor Emeritus in 1991. He also received an Honorary Doctorate from the College of Notre Dame in Belmont, California. He was devoted to his community and served in many capacities: as President of the San Mateo Rotary Club, Board Member and President of the San Mateo County Mental Health Assoc., Elder at First Presbyterian Church of Burlingame, Ex-Officio Director of the San Mateo County Exposition and Fair Assoc., Chairman of the San Mateo County Economic Development Assoc., Board Member of Mills-Peninsula Hospital Foundation and President of the Board of the Northern California Presbyterian Homes. In 1999, he and Kathleen moved to Rogue Valley Manor in Medford, OR, where he was involved as a President of the Residential Council and member of the Session at Westminster Church. He is survived by his wife Kathleen, son Tom, daughter Julie, daughterin-law Pam Smith, son-inlaw Bryan Gahagan and eleven grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His son Ransom and daughter Millicent pre-deceased him. Memorial services will be on December 16th at 1:30pm at the Rogue Valley Manor, 1250 Mira Mar Ave., Medford, OR, 97504. Gifts to the Fairy Godmother Scholarship Foundation are suggested at the Rogue Valley Manor Foundation. www.memorygardensmortuary.com