HELPER-Leo A. Goldsmith, 88 years young, passed away May 31, 2011 at the Veterans Hospital in Salt Lake City after a brief illness. He was born Feb. 5, 1923 in Omaha, Neb. to Herman and Sarah Kroloff Goldsmith.
Leo attended school in Omaha and was in the ROTC at Central High School and the University of Nebraska in Omaha where he was a lifelong Cornhusker.
After Pearl Harbor, Leo enlisted in the Army Air Corps and fought in WW II. He was a navigator on the B-25 bomber in the Philippines. After the war ended Leo settled in California where he began a career as an estimator for McDonough Steel Company.
He married Phyllis Tarango June 3, 1950. Leo later worked for D.W. Nicholson Steel and retired from there in 1992. In 2005, he came to live with his daughter, Michelle and her husband, Al and granddaughter Holly. He made many, many friends in the Helper Community and was adored by all.
Leo will be remembered as a kind and generous gentleman who loved chocolate. His hobbies included eating out, gambling and traveling. He also loved spending time with his family. Leo was well loved by his family and friends who enjoyed his jokes, easy going demeanor and carefree attitude.
He is survived by his wife, Phyllis Goldsmith, daughters, Susan (Earl) Vejby, all of California, Michelle Goldsmith and Allen Hughes of Helper; granddaughter, Holly Hughes, Salt Lake; Goddaughter, Kathy Dahl, California; and his special angels from Community Nursing Services.
In accordance with his Jewish traditions that he loved, Leo was buried at the Mountain View Cemetery in Helper on June 1, 2011 while surrounded by his family and a community of friends. In honor of Leo, memorial contributions may be made to your favorite veterans organization or to the hospice suite of the Whalen Veterans Hospital, 500 Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah 84148.
Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home where friends are welcome to share online memories of Leo at www.mitchellfuneralhome.net.
Leo A. Goldsmith
"Leo A. Goldsmith"