Paul Alva Smith

Paul Alva Smith was born on Jan. 17, 1941 in Pomeroy WA in the doctor’s office. He lived his early years in Potlatch, Idaho north of Moscow and the University of Idaho. 

Paul was the 3rd child out of 5. He joined the Air Force ahead of the Vietnam draft. While stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base near Santa Maria, CA. he met Sharon Park. It was love at first sight. Paul and Sharon were married in 1966. They returned to Northern Idaho, where Paul returned to the University of Idaho and received a degree in Architecture. 

First daughter Rachel in Moscow, ID, then second daughter Lisa was born in Oregon in 1973. Paul would forever be a “girl dad” and he loved it. The family lived in Lake Oswego, Oregon for 40 years. 

Paul worked for Freightliner for over 30 years. Paul’s personal faith came alive after he began doing short term mission trips to Haiti in the 1990s. That solid faith and deep love for Jesus was evident to many, especially for the last 30 years of his life. 

In 2008, Paul narrowly escaped death from the “flesh eating disease” medically called Necrotizing Fasciitis. After 6 weeks in the hospital, he walked out on his own strength. After this experience, Paul saw every day as a bonus and was incredibly grateful. 

Paul and Sharon moved to Longview, WA in 2011. It became the perfect small town for them. They eventually moved into the Campus Towers retirement building. They loved the community and friends they made at the Towers. Even though he was baptized as a baby, he was fully immersed in baptism at Calvary Chapel Church on his 80th birthday. 

Paul passed on into Glory on Nov. 22, 2024. He was completely coherent and vocal just hours before his death. His family believes his quick decline and passing is what he would have wanted. 

Many knew Paul as the absolute sweetest and kindest man. He never met a stranger and he loved doing things his own way. Many have shared the sentiment that Paul “made them a better person for knowing him and the world is a better place after he spoke the Gospel and walked the walk.” 

Paul is survived by his wife of 58 years, Sharon and his two daughters, Rachel Morton (spouse Dan) of Beaverton, OR and Lisa Lyons (spouse Chris) of Mountlake Terrace, WA. Paul’s grandchildren include: Pierce Morton, Devon Morton, Kathryn Lyons, Heather Nicole Lyons, Josselyn Knight, Joseph Lyons and Tressa Knight. He was also the honorary Grandpa to Kayla Starelli and Great-Grandpa to Michelle and Vinny Starelli.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations to these worthy causes: Paul's Haiti Ministry, https://www.rmibridge.org/ or Grandson Joey Lyons's robotics team, https://www.chillout1778.org/. They plan on returning to World Competition in Houston in April.