Person Page - 923

     Daniel Smith Sr., son of John Smith Jr. and Mary Hanmer, was born on 7 September 1761 at East Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts.^3,4,2

     Daniel, at age 24, son of John Smith Jr. and Mary Hanmer, married Chloe Kingman on 13 June 1786 at Abington, Plymouth, Massachusetts.^5,6

     Daniel Smith Sr. died circa 1826.³

     Deborah Alice Smith, daughter of Fred M. Smith and Cora Melissa Lund, was born circa 1904 at Maine.¹

     Deborah died on 2 November 1911, at Charlotte, Washington, Maine, Her cause of death was an accidental gun shot wound by little brother while loading rifle.²

     Dianne Elizabeth Smith, daughter of Cleon Moses Smith and June Elizabeth Burrill, was born on 6 October 1942 at Meridan, New Haven, Connecticut.¹

     Dianne and John as remembered... This is as it was remembered; created by compiler (John Van Dyke):

It was January 1964, in Bangor, Maine. It was winter and the most snow I have seen in one year in my life. I had just signed in at 75th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Dow Air Force Base. My car was a blue 1963 Volkswagen Sedan. Even though it was a new car, I had a strong desire for a 1957 Ford convertible. A close worker, who lived in Skowhegan, Maine, was on the lookout for this year vehicle. Low and behold, he found a white 1957 Ford convertible 'For Sale' at Hartley's in Newport. My decision was easy; I used the VW as a trade and drove off with the convertible!!! The feeling of driving, now, with a car I had wanted, was great. The month was February 1964, the snow on the sides of the roads was about 3 to 4 feet high and the temperature low, 0 to 30 above. Several nights I had seen a blue 1957 Ford convertible driving around Bangor. My problem was it was always going in the opposite direction. By the time I could turn around and try to follow the blue convertible, it disappeared. Finally, one night, both cars were traveling in the same direction. I got Dianne to pull to the side of the road. My line to her was, 'Why don't we save some gas money. Since we are both driving around Bangor, if she would join me in my car, one of us could save on gas.' She agreed and now we were both driving around in my white convertible in February 1964.²

     Dianne, at age 21, daughter of Cleon Moses Smith and June Elizabeth Burrill, married John William Van Dyke at age 20, son of Walter Carmen Van Dyke and Astrid Elizabeth Bäcklund, on 9 May 1964 at Fairview Ave, Dover Foxcroft, Piscataquis, Maine.³

     Dianne Elizabeth Smith and John William Van Dyke lived on 9 May 1964 at Cedar Street, Dover Foxcroft, Piscataquis, Maine, We lived there for about 4 months. John would drive back and forth to Bangor, (Dow Air Force Base). We moved to Bangor about August 1964.⁴

     Dianne Elizabeth Smith and John William Van Dyke lived circa August 1964 at Division Street, Bangor, Penobscot, Maine,

As fall was approaching, Rhonda was of age to attend school. We decided it was time to move closer to John's work. Ah, there it was, Utterback's Senior citizen home. No, we didn't live there but in an apartment above a garage in their back yard. You just couldn't imagine how hot it was there. Small windows, no air conditioning and one fan.
Rhonda was registered at the Mary Snow School. Her travel, walking to and from school was about seven blocks, each way.
Some of our favorite things to eat was 'Tri-City Pizza'. One must realize, pizza, during this period in Bangor, was big, but, mostly made in small shops.
We lived there through the winter of 1964 - 65. When Spring came we went looking for a mobile home. Here we were, new mobile home, living at Tozier's Trailer Park, off the Finson Road, Lot #13.⁴

     Dianne Elizabeth Smith and John William Van Dyke lived circa October 1964 at Finson Road, Bangor, Penobscot, Maine, We purchased a new mobile home. We worked hard getting ready for winter. Skirting around the trailer, heat tape installed on the inlet water line.⁴

     Dianne Elizabeth Smith and John William Van Dyke lived circa April 1965 at Finson Road, Bangor, Penobscot, Maine, Spring, new mobile home, we're living in a small trailer park. Everything was going well. Rhonda had numerous friends to play with. Speaking too soon, Mom gets told Rhonda had dropped her pants (6 years old) while with the boys. John gets home from work and Dianne says we gotta move from here, Rhonda just exposed herself. Things calmed down and we didn't move.⁴

     Dianne Elizabeth Smith lived circa May 1966 at 3rd Avenue, Floyd, New York, We packed up the babies, driving a 1960 Ford Station Wagon and headed to New York. After a short stay at Griffis Air Force Base, in temporary base housing, (awaiting for the arrival of our new mobile home), we settled in Green Masions Trailer Park.⁵

     Dianne Elizabeth Smith lived circa June 1967 at River Road, Sidney, Maine, No one told us anything was going to be easy. Our trailer we had in New York was moved to Maine. For John, in addition to working on the flight line, he had a parttime job, cleaning work offices at Keflevik.⁵

     Dianne Elizabeth Smith lived in May 1968 at 316 Texas Avenue, Victorville, San Bernardino, California, The start of the trip was great. However, as we got to middle America, then on toward Southwest, we knew what we were missing without air conditioning in the car.⁵

     Dianne Elizabeth Smith lived in May 1970 at Rangley Place, Bangor, Penobscot, Maine, John received military orders to Udorn, Thailand. His tour was remote for one year.⁵

     Dianne Elizabeth Smith lived in June 1971 at Nellis Air Force Base, Las Vegas, Nevada, To express the excitement is difficult. After a short stay in temporary lodging, we were assigned residence at 76 B Salmon Drive.⁵

     Dianne Elizabeth Smith lived in November 1975 at Pease Air Force Base, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, The weather from Las Vegas was great. However, the first night's stop, Flagstaff, Arizona, became a disaster. Prior to arrival, it snowed 12 inches. The next morning, the temperature was close to ZERO, plus another 12 inches of snow. Our car cooling system was not treated with enough antifreeze. The wakeup and thought of early departure was gone. It was about one o'clock in the afternoon, when the area warmed up and the car thawed were we able to proceed.⁵

     Dianne Elizabeth Smith lived in December 1978 at Offutt Air Force Base, Omaha, Nebraska, It was a difficult decision to make. It was two years prior, we moved into our first home located in the woods of Wells, Maine. The sound of wind whistling through the trees was so relaxing.
Well, John had to provide the answer whether he would accept the assignment within seven days. It took seven days to decide!
So, in our green 1970 Ford Station Wagon, and a 1968 VW Squareback in tow, we headed off. Traveling was good on I-80 until we got to Davenport, Iowa. The weather was freezing rain. It took us all day to travel about 170 miles. We arrived at Omaha, 31 Dec 1978.⁵

     Dianne Elizabeth Smith lived in 1981 at Sacramento Air Logistics Center, Sacramento, Sacramento, California, The travel from Omaha, Nabraska to Sacramento was joyful. Again, we had the 1968 VW Squareback in tow. We stopped at many places along the way. We took Interstate 80 all the way. It took an entire day of driving and we were still in Nebraska. Our travel took us across the salt flats in Utah.
The first town in Nevada, Dianne had to try out the slot machines at a local casino. Then, through Donner Pass and onward to Sacramento.⁶

     Dianne Elizabeth Smith lived in July 1985 at RAF Fairford, Fairford, United Kingdom, Our departure from JFK International airport was uneventful. The flight departed early evening and arrived at London, Heathrow about 5 A. M. Dianne, being a diabetic and needing something to eat, she ordered a 'English' breakfast at the airport. On a plate was one fried egg, one English-style sausage, half a tomato, (fried until brown), baked beans, one slice of fried bread (a slice of white bread fried in oil, probably the oil used to cook the bacon). As hungry she was, the look on her face was priceless when the plate was presented!
Next came,'How are we going to get to Fairford? Usually, a sponsor would pick people up at the airport. This didn't happen, we fended for ourselves. Ah, let's take a train. We loaded the baggage and we are traveling, by train, to Swindon. Upon arrival at the Swindon train station, stepping outside with baggage, just in time for Karen to receive 'pigeon poop' on her head and baggage.
We then flagged a taxi for the final leg to Fairford. The taxi cab was small, the amount of baggage allot, the driver used rope to hold the baggage to the outside of the vehicle. A sight to see, for sure.⁶

     Dianne Elizabeth Smith lived in July 1988 at RAF Little Rissington, England, Three wonderful years went by fast and we are heading back to Victorville (George Air Force Base), California. Now, John has two years left to complete 30 years service.⁷

     Dianne Elizabeth Smith lived circa May 1989 John had sent many job resumes, looking for a future endeavor. Finally, he received an interview request from United Airlines, in San Francisco. Additionally, Boeing at Cocoa Beach wanted to do an interview.⁷

     Dianne Elizabeth Smith lived in October 1992 at Greenbush Road, Corinna, Penobscot, Maine, This was a 'once in a lifetime' dream for Dianne.⁷

     Dianne Elizabeth Smith died on 12 November 2007 at Brewer, Penobscot, Maine, at age 65. Her remains were cremated on 15 November 2007. They now travel between her children.⁸ If you are viewing this page within the 'Van Dyke Family' you need to switch to 'Dianne Smith's Family' sub page


See pictures: The Picture Collection May be viewed By Left-Clicking on This Link.

     Donald A. Smith, son of Morton Albert Smith and Maude G. Hoar, was born in April 1900 at Maine.¹

     Dorcas Smith, daughter of John Smith Jr. and Mary Hanmer, was born on 13 December 1765 at East Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts.^1,2