D.H. Smith, business leader, dies

Douglas Hill Smith, 87, noted Utah

businessman and a former member of the Quorums of the Seventy of The

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died at home on Jan. 29,

2009, of causes incident to age.

He was born May 11, 1921, in Salt Lake City, the son of Virgil

Howarth Smith and Winifred Pearl Hill Smith, attended local schools and

graduated in 1942 from the University of Utah. Unable to serve in the

military because of a birth defect that prevented him from rotating his

hands and arms, he went to work for Utah Home Fire Insurance Co. Within

16 years, he was president of the firm and later he became president of

its parent company, Beneficial Life Insurance. He also served for a

time as president of Southern Reinsurance Exchange.

He was sustained on April 4, 1987, to the Second Quorum of the

Seventy and was released on Oct. 3, 1992, having served in both the

First and Second quorums. His early church service included a calling

as bishop of the South Edghill Ward and later as president of the

Hillside Stake. He was subsequently called as a regional representative

and then area president of the Asia Area, where he developed a great

love for the Asian people. He also had served as a temple sealer.

From 1974 to 1984, during his wife's tenure as president of the

worldwide church Relief Society, which involved extensive traveling

across the world, he supported her by helping to care for their family,

including shopping for birthday and Christmas gifts as well as routine

needs.