Frances Virginia Smith

Frances Virginia Haughtelin Smith ("Fran Smith") was born on July 31, 1921. Her parents were Leslie and Edith Haughtelin. Frances was the firstborn of four children. She was born at home in Long Beach, CA. She would continue to live in Long Beach for all of her 94 1/2 years. She died on December 7, 2015, at a hospital in nearby Lakewood, CA, after a brief stay of a few days.

Fran was a proud Poly Jackrabbit, graduating from Long Beach Polytechnic High School. While attending jr. and sr. high school, Fran also played violin in the Long Beach Women's Symphony Orchestra. One quite memorable concert was performed in Balboa Park, San Diego, as part of the festivities at the International Exposition. Later in life, while being a homemaker and mother and maintaining a career outside the home, Fran also enrolled in evening classes and graduated from Long Beach City College.

Fran met Frank Wren Smith when he began to frequent the Long Beach cafe owned by her parents. Frank, from Iowa, had settled in Long Beach after four years in the U.S. Navy. Fran would be known as "Fran Smith" forever after when she and Frank were married on Frank's birthday in 1941. Just a couple months later, Frank re-enlisted in the U.S. Navy following the attack on Pearl Harbor. After WWII, Frank worked several years for the Johns Manville Co. Then for many years he was a U.S. Postal employee, working out of the Seal Beach, CA, Post Office. Fran and Frank had one son, Stephen Frank Smith, and one grandson, Scot Stephen Smith.

Fran and Frank purchased a home in Long Beach in 1946. Frank lived there until his death in 1995, and Fran lived in that home for almost 70 years until her recent death. Fran and Frank celebrated 54 wedding anniversaries.

Fran's first full-time job was as an employee of the Chinese-owned National Dollar Store on Pine Ave. in old downtown Long Beach. At the time of her death, Fran still owned a lovely bowl that was a wedding gift to her from the store owners. Fran became an employee of Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach in 1943. In addition to being a wife and mother, she truly enjoyed her career as an analyst in the aerospace industry. She became a supervisor in the Budgets & Estimates section of the Engineering Department of Douglas. Fran was a highly regarded and loyal employee of Douglas Aircraft Co. for more than 42 years until her retirement.

Fran's retirement years were filled with interesting activities. She and Frank continued to travel, enjoy golf, and cheer for the ANGELS baseball team. Fran's keen mind was a great match for genealogy. Her research led to the discovery of a Revolutionary War ancestor, Abraham Houghtelin of New York. Fran was accepted into membership by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1992. She enjoyed attending meetings and being involved in D.A.R. for 20+ years. Fran participated in activities and day trips offered by OASIS and LBCC Senior Group. Fran also spent many hours and years volunteering her help at the Angelo M. Iacoboni Library in Lakewood and at her favorite travel agency. She was an avid mall walker when that program existed at the Lakewood Mall. She and friends from that group continued to meet for morning coffee and for a monthly birthday celebration lunch up to the present.

Though a lifelong resident of Long Beach, Fran always loved to travel. She and Frank over time visited almost all 50 States. They also enjoyed several cruises together. For many years Fran & Frank owned a condo at Makaha in Hawaii. After Fran was alone, continued travels were sources of both comfort and adventure for her. She traveled frequently and extensively, often by cruise ship, and visited many countries in all but one major continent. She never stopped loving to learn new things. The world was Fran's classroom! In spite of all the unique areas she visited, Hawaii maintained its status as one of her most favorite places. Whether travel involved a cruise or a road trip, Fran enjoyed the adventure with all her heart. And enjoyed those adventures into her 90's.

Fran was known for her very sharp mind, her resilience and positive outlook during difficult times, her laughter and smiles, and her huge and generous heart. She loved deeply and was deeply loved in return. Fran was preceded in death by her father Leslie Haughtelin, mother Edith Haughtelin, brother Robert Haughtelin, husband Frank Smith, and son Stephen Smith. She is survived by her grandson Scot Smith, sister Beverly Young, sister Linda Haughtelin, extended family members, and many close friends. Thank you, dear Lord, for sharing special Fran with us for as many years as you did!

Fran's family invites you to a Celebration of Fran's Life on Friday, January 8, at 10:30 a.m. Location: Luyben Family Dilday-Mottell Mortuary Chapel at 5161 Arbor Road in Long Beach, CA. Fran loved flowers. Should anyone wish to donate to a charity in lieu of flowers, two of Fran's favorite charities were Cancer Research of Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, CA (in memory of son Stephen F. Smith) and USC University Hospital, Keck School of Medicine, Neurosurgery, Los Angeles, CA (in gratitude for their life-saving skills for Fran back in 2000.)