Senior Spotlight: Frank Smith

Print

I was delivered by a midwife in Fresno 80 years ago.

My mother was a parachute maker, and my father worked the rodeo circuit.

A fall in infancy broke both my eardrums and resulted in deafness. As a result, I am in the hearing world and the non-hearing world. I attended several schools before going to the California School for the Deaf in Berkeley. I was there for 10 years and left school in 1947 and went out on my own. I have learned many things in life.

My dad rode horses in parades many times. He was a club member and rode white horses and carried the flag. He also rode in other cities.

I worked both outdoors and indoors. First I worked as a laborer and tractor driver on a big ranch. I then worked for Berven Rug Mill for 14 years and Kenney Manufacturing for 18 years. I retired in 1990.

I was married in 1952 in Las Vegas and divorced in 1980. I have three daughters: Shirley, Bonnie and Diane. They helped me celebrate my 80th birthday this May. I have five grandchildren and six great grandchildren. All live in the Fresno area. I attend a church for the deaf, Brighe, and am involved with the church people. I can hear and do sign language.

My hobbies are playing bingo, watching wrestling and playing cards. I enjoy coming to Clovis because it is good to meet and talk to the nice people. I have fun here. I play canasta with the ladies three days a week.

I have a sister who lives in Fresno about 20 miles from me. I have a brother who lives in Reno.