SMITH, David Abraham Reg. No. 566 Jan 22, 1950 – Jan 14, 2024
It is with great sadness we announce the sudden passing of David Smith on January 14th, 2024, at the age of 73.
He was predeceased by his loving son Darin, and two granddaughters Ericka & Abbey.
David will be lovingly remembered and greatly missed by his wife of 53 years Shirley, daughter Rhonda (Kym), daughter-in-law Sandra and his grandchildren Madyson, McKenna, Katy, Alyssa, Coleton and Jacob. Sister Sharyn (Doug), sister-in-law Sharon (Jim), and extended family Bernard (Catherine) and Christine. As well as numerous
cousins, nieces, nephews and close friends.
David was a retired Edmonton Police Officer and was an active member of The Millwoods Breakfast Lions Club. He loved his family, his time spent at Garner Lake, coffee and lunch with his close friends and his dog Mitsy.
A Celebration of Life was held on January 22nd, 2024, in Edmonton.
Memorial donations can be made to any animal rescue of your choice.
Dave Smith joined the Edmonton Police Department as a member of RTC 31 on September 23rd, 1969, and retired on April 11th, 1997.
Born 23 March 1929 in
Crossmaglen, Northern Ireland and died 03 January 2024 in Edmonton. He is survived by his son David (Ann) and grandsons Ross and Kevin from Chilliwack, BC and predeceased by his wife Una. He was the last remaining member of a group of men recruited, by the Edmonton Police Force, from the Royal Ulster Constabulary in 1952. John served with the RUC from 1947-1952 before resigning and leaving Belfast on 11 November of that year on a ship overnight, bound for Liverpool. On November 12th November John and 23 others boarded the SS Franconia left Liverpool and began a six day trip across the Atlantic, to the St Lawrence and Quebec City. John fondly remembered
the the fine food on board and the fun he had becoming acquainted with the others. Quebec City was of particular interest for it was there that he saw tea bags for the first time and often laughed about the men riding up and down on moving stairs (escalator) in a huge department store. *
The next journey was the 4 day rail trip from Quebec to Edmonton. The train stopped often at remote stations where the men were able to stock up with provisions and the occasional case of beer. Once they arrived in Edmonton they were all billeted with various Irish families until they were able to get lodgings of their own. Within days all were provided with uniforms, firearms, and a week of basic training before being assigned to various beats in the city.
John’s policing career in Edmonton spanned 34 years, His start date with the police in Edmonton was November 24th, 1952. He was promoted to detective and worked in various positions in Vice and Drugs and later as Staff Sergeant in charge of Technical Support. He was one of the 100 members who took the famous “buy out” in 1986, retiring on April 15th of that year..
John will be remembered as a true gentleman with a keen sense of dress, an avid reader with an incredible knowledge of history, an unrivaled recall and a great love of
languages including his native Gaelic. (OBITUARY DRAFTED BY JOHN’S GOOD FRIEND MIKE BRADSHAW)
** John was subject of a “Where are they now?” article in the June 2022 edition of The Call Box. You can access that In The Call Box Archives area of the EPSVA website. **