Listen to this article
Promoted to glory
Lt. Colonel Arthur Smith was promoted to Glory on August 24 from his home in San Jose, Calif.
Arthur John Smith was born August 27, 1927 in Detroit, Michigan. Although his grandmother was one of the first Salvation Army officers in England, Art did not know this. When he first encountered the Army at about age seven, he fell in love with it; soon he had his mother and siblings also attending the local corps.
In 1946, Art was commissioned with the Challengers Session in Chicago. While a cadet, Art first felt called to minister in Alaska.
As lieutenant, he served throughout Michigan. In 1948 he met Probationary Lieutenant Alice Hathaway; they married in 1951. Smith was sent to Anchorage in 1949 as assistant, before moving to Fairbanks to begin the Army work there. Art and Alice served in Alaska through 1959, both being adopted into Tlingit tribes.
The Smiths were then sent to Los Angeles as corps officers of the Congress Hall Corps, then the largest corps in the Western Territory. While there, Art attended the International College for Officers in London.
After serving as divisional secretary in Southern California, Art returned to corps work in San Jose, Calif. in 1968. Here he developed a plan to open the Army ministry in Sunnyvale, Gilroy and Santa Clara—a vision realized by future officers in the next 20 years.
Smith served in the Southwest as divisional secretary, and then served as divisional commander in the Alaska, Intermountain and Northwest Divisions.
Lt. Colonel Smith’s final appointment as territorial evangelist and the first officers’ counselor was a blessing for him and Alice. He enjoyed the role of pastor and always sought to see ministry from the frontlines perspective.
Survivors include wife, Lt. Colonel Alice Smith; six children—Kathleen Toussaint, James Smith, Arthur (Chip) Smith, Major Sheryl Tollerud, Daniel Smith, and Captain Timothy Smith; twelve grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Also surviving are a brother, Lloyd Smith and two sisters, Major Pat Robbins and Marcia Kay.
A memorial service was held at the San Jose Temple Corps with Commissioner Kenneth Hood officiating and Major Doug Tollerud speaking.
Messages may be sent to: Lt. Colonel Alice Smith, 964 Hurlstone Lane, San Jose, CA 95120; Major Sheryl Tollerud, 2487 Twyla Court, San Jose, CA 95008; and Captain Tim Smith, 6827 Crawford St., Anchorage, AK 99502.
Ruth Blanche (Shaw) Moss, 95, of El Paso, Tex., went home to be with the Lord on May 21, 2004. She was born August 31, 1908 in Beggs, Okla.
Ruth graduated valedictorian in Preston, Okla. where she was a star player on the girls’ basketball team.
Ruth moved to El Paso with her husband Paul and their four children in 1939. She became a member of The Salvation Army Church in El Paso where she served in Home League and the League of Mercy for many years.
She also worked a number of years in The Salvation Army Thrift Store.
Proceeded in death by husband, Paul W. Moss, she is survived by daughters, Beverly Landry, Mary Smith, Donna Heim; son, Bill Moss and wife, Barbara; grandchildren, Gilbert and David Landry, Tamara Power, Gina Montez, Lynette Maldonado, Joseph Heim, Michael, Mark and Paula Moss; ten great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at Restlawn Funeral Home with El Paso Citadel Associate Corps Officer Captain David Allen presiding.
Interment followed in Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.
