Milo L Smith died Friday August 24, 2012 at Lake Ridge Alzheimer's care center in Moses Lake. He was born on February 13, 1925 in Spokane, Washington, and spent his early childhood in the mining towns of northern Idaho. Upon his mother's death when he was nine years old, he was sent to North Idaho Children's home in Lewiston where he lived until being adopted by Fred and Irene Smith. After graduating from Lewiston High School in 1943, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps, serving in the Pacific theater on the islands of Okinawa and Ie Shima. During the Korean War, he served with the Marines again, training replacement troops at Camp Pendleton. He graduated from Officer's Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia.His higher education started at Northern Idaho College of Education, where he earned a Bachelor's degree and met his wife of 63 years, Helen G Smith. Together they spent time at Stanford University and the University of Oregon, furthering his preparation for teaching, earning a Master's and PhD. For several years he taught speech and drama at Dallas High School in Dallas, Oregon. His entire college teaching career was spent at Central Washington University, from 1956 to 1990. Over that span of years, he directed fifty plays, and was proud to have introduced Broadway musicals and dinner theatre to the public offerings, as well as starting a children's theatre troupe which traveled to neighboring schools.Although he taught a full range of theatre and speech courses, he was particularly fond of sharing his love for theatre history with students. He was chairman of the Theatre Department several times, as well as taking on the chairmanship of the Art Department for one year. In 1990 he was honored by the university when they named their "black-box" stage The Milo Smith Tower Theatre. He treasured this recognition all his life. Since he had never really been part of a family while growing up, he was almost shamelessly proud of his wife and three children. He was also delighted that his work brought him to a "perfect spot" for raising children. He loved Ellensburg's small town atmosphere, as well as the chance to back-pack and fish in the surrounding hills. He was a proud member of the local Noon Rotary Club for 50 years.He is survived by his wife Helen, daughter Shannon (Hugh) Brannon of Seattle, daughter Kerry Slaughter of Ellensburg, and son Kevin (Nancy) Smith of Edmonds, WA. His surviving grandchildren are Jed (Ann) Slaughter of Tacoma, Erin Slaughter, Ellensburg, Claire Brannon, Seattle, Morgan (Sean) Brannon-Henderson, Seattle, Todd Brannon, Seattle, and Emily and Rachel Smith, Edmonds. His one great-grandson is Toby Slaughter, Tacoma. He was preceded in death by grandson Wesley Birkett-Smith.Memorial Service will be held Saturday September 8, 2012 at 2:00 pm at the Milo L Smith Tower Theatre at Central Washington University. Memorial donations can be made the Milo Smith Theatre History Scholarship at CWU in care of Brookside Funeral Home 101 E 2nd Ave Ellensburg, WA 98926.