Lowell Lee Smith

Lowell Lee Smith, 80, passed away on Tuesday, November 1, 2016 in Laguna Hills, CA. He was born March 30, 1936, in Burbank, CA, to Vance Bowden Smith and Eugenia Raymond Smith. He was raised in Crestline and West Covina, where he graduated from Covina High School, and later lived in San Jose, Santa Monica, and Glendora, CA; Houston, TX; and Laguna Hills, CA.

On February 9, 1957, Lowell married his high school sweetheart, Julie Ann Joyce. They moved to San Jose, where Lowell attended San Jose State University, and later returned to Southern California where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from UCLA in 1961. He began his career as an engineer in the aerospace industry, and was particularly proud of his involvement with Apollo, most specifically his work on the LEM lunar lander. After that he moved to Houston to open an office for the environmental engineering firm he worked for, later returning to California where he and a partner ran, then sold, their own engineering firm. He enjoyed his work, and continued to accept consulting assignments until a few years ago.

Lowell loved the outdoors, especially the mountains. He enjoyed camping and boating when his family was young. Later, he and Julie enjoyed traveling, often along with some of their many friends from their high school years. He also enjoyed woodworking in his garage, the study of anthropology, and fixing anything and everything that needed fixing.

A beloved husband, father, and friend, Lowell will be missed by many. He is survived by his wife, Julie Smith of Laguna Hills. He is also survived by three sons and a daughter-in-law: Steven and Rebecca Smith of Foothill Ranch, James Smith of Laguna Hills, and Michael Smith of Laguna Hills. Other survivors include a brother-in-law and his spouse, John and Karen Joyce of Santa Monica; a niece, Jennifer Joyce of Santa Monica; a nephew and his spouse, Brian and Lisa Joyce of Los Angeles; and great nephews and niece Ethan, Zachary and Madeline Joyce of Los Angeles. He is preceded in death by his parents.