DAVID JAMES SMITS

David James Smits was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin to Ellwood and Laurel Halloin Smits. His family grew with the addition of four siblings: Mike, Stewart, Lynn, and Heidi. He was raised in a Christian home and accepted Christ as his Savior when he was a teenager.

The family moved to Riverside, California, where David attended Chemawa Middle School and later graduated from Ramona High School in 1967.

He married Sandy Pohlad in November 1969 and they had one daughter, Patricia.

Dave, as he preferred to be called, loved camping with the family, restoring old cars, and participating in car shows.

He was involved in several professions, including X-ray Technician and fireman, and worked in the automotive industry, where for over 20 years he worked with his dad in Corona at Goslin Tire Co. He could repair cars and was very gifted at auto body work.  

He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Sandy, and his daughter, Patricia.

In 2021, Dave and his brother, Stewart, joined Magnolia Church in Riverside. He had a heart to serve and last year was ordained as a Deacon, where he loved his assignment of working in the Benevolence Ministry of the church. He also sang in the Senior Adult Choir.

It was at Magnolia Church that he met Vi Estel, who was serving as Director of Senior Adult Activities. They began a friendship and married in November of 2022. They were married for only 15 months, but those months were filled with love and joy.

David had a great sense of humor and enjoyed telling jokes and making others laugh and smile. Most of all he loved the Lord. He will be greatly missed.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on March 13, 2024, at 11:30 am in the Worship Center of Magnolia Church, located at 8351 Magnolia Avenue, in Riverside. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Magnolia Church's “Benevolence Ministry.”

Arrangements entrusted to the care of Akes Family Funeral Home, Riverside, California.

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