George William Smart

Dr. George William Smart was born in Glendale California on September 15, 1911. He graduated from Glendale High School (where he was the tennis doubles state champion), from the Bible Institute of Los Angeles, and from Gordon College, Boston, Mass in 1936. He took graduate seminary degrees at Gordon Divinity School, Berkeley Baptist Divinity School and Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Kansas. He earned his Doctorate of Theology in Kansas City. Additional studies were at University of Nevada and the University of California, Berkeley. For sixty years he was married to Priscilla Conley of Ellsworth, Maine, a rural minister, and they had three children. She died in 1996. He is survived by a son, Dr. G. Richard Smart of Fort Collins, Colorado, a daughter Sylvia Jean who died shortly after her birth, and a daughter, Carolyn Smart Smith Manlowe of Yucaipa, California. Both children were college professors. He also leaves his son-in-law, James Manlowe of Yucaipa, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Dr. Smart was pastor of the First Baptist Church of Georgetown, Mass., then appointed as a missionary by the American Baptist Churches to the Tahoe Indian Parish in Reno, Stewart and Dresslerville, Nevada. In 1954 he served as chaplain of Haskell Indian School in Lawrence, Kansas, then later became President of the Cook Indian Theological Seminary in Phoenix, Arizona, during which time he directed the building of a 20 acre campus in Tempe. Two retirement pastorates followed in California: First Baptist of Calimesa, and Grandview Baptist of Grand Terrace. He published the book "History of Nevada Indian Missions" as part of his doctorate of theology, was president of the National Fellowship of Indian Workers and president of the Ministerial Association in Lawrence, Kansas and Carson City, Nevada. Elders of the Nevada Washoe Tribe named him honorary chief Wa-Pai-Stone and his wife Pricess Wa-Pai-Stone for their service to the three major tribes in Nevada -- Washoe, Paiute, Shoshone. During his retirement he taught the adult Sunday School Class at the First Baptist Church of Redlands, held a General Class Ham Radio Licence, and was a certified Supreme Master Faceter by the American Society of Gemcutters. His hobbies included raising Bonsai plants, orchids, and woodworking, and camping with his daughter and her family. He lived in Yucaipa Valley for 43 years. In September he celebrated his 100th birthday surrounded by his family. Services and interment will be private.