Kent Campbell Smith's Obituary
Kent Campbell Smith passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at the age of 76, surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife Martha Smith, his children Monica Karunakaran, Earlene Camarillo, and Vanessa Smith, his grandson Oliver Karunakaran, and his siblings Sheridan Wilson and Zachary Smith.
Born on September 11, 1945 in Oakland, CA to Alden and Lelia Smith, Kent was a devoted patriot who dedicated his life to his family and to the service of his communities. Martha and Kent met in the Bay Area and celebrated 40 years of marriage on May 29, 2022. A proud father and family man, Kent spent much of his life keeping up with his daughters during their school years and traveling with his family. Always supportive of their endeavors, he was a regular chaperone for school field trips and rarely missed a tennis match, even the far away games. He loved spending time hiking and camping in the Sierras, Yosemite and Joshua Tree National Parks, collecting photographs and rocks, and engaging in philosophical discussions. He enjoyed revisiting his extensive book collection, including his particular favorites: Plato’s The Republic, the Bible, and works by Jack London, Shakespeare, and John Muir.
Kent’s first career position was as a line officer aboard the nuclear-powered USS Enterprise (CVA(N)–65) in 1968. As a Lieutenant in the Navy, Kent was fortunate to survive a terrible disaster at sea during his time on the Enterprise but was left with substantial injuries due to residual effects of the accident. After nearly 3 years of active duty, he continued serving in the Navy Reserve, receiving an honorable discharge in 1981.
In spite of physical limitations, Kent went on to lead a fulfilling career in public service. He received a Master’s in Public Administration from Cal State University, Hayward and a Master’s in Divinity from the American Baptist Seminary of the West - Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley. Kent was Executive Director of a nonprofit setting up juvenile group homes and halfway houses for adults as alternatives to prison for nonviolent offenses and minor crimes. He also served as a Management Consultant, Chaplain, and Protestant Minister, providing advice and spiritual guidance to his community. His public service continued in recent years through active involvement with Paralyzed Veterans of America, San Diego Veterans Coalition, Military Officers Association of America, the Democratic Party, and Unitarian and Congregational churches.
Kent will be remembered as a strong-willed, thoughtful person who loved his family, loved the outdoors, and exemplified meaningful community membership.
A public Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, September 17, 2022 at 10 am.
First Congregational Church of Escondido
1800 N Broadway, Escondido, CA 92026
Kent will be buried at a private ceremony at Miramar National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider donating to one of the following charities that were close to Kent’s heart:
Yosemite Conservancy: https://yosemite.org/donate/gift-in-memory/?appeal=memorial
Sierra Club: https://act.sierraclub.org/donate/rc_connect__campaign_designform?id=7013q000002GRTdAAO&formcampaignid=7010Z000001P1f5QAC
Paralyzed Veterans of America: https://pva.org/ways-to-give/
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