Longtime Bishop resident and owner of Culver’s Sporting Goods, Dave Smith, passed away on March 10, 2018 in his home after a long battle with cancer.
Dave was born September 21, 1942 in Montpelier, Vermont to Martha and Harry Smith. When he was one his family moved to South Pasadena, California. He became a big brother to Tom when he was eleven.
Dave was a Forest Ranger for four years, first in Frazier Park, then in Angeles Forest. He was an EMT and firefighter with the Alhambra Fire Department for twenty years. He moved to the Owens Valley in 1985 where he became the owner of Culver’s Sporting Goods for thirty-two years.
Dave was an avid outdoorsman. The Sierra was his second home. He loved fishing, hunting and wheeling in his Jeep. Over the years he shared his love of fishing by teaching kids to fish. He was a skilled rod wrapper and a master woodworker. He liked to support and fundraise for the Inyo County Search and Rescue, Bishop Volunteer Fire Dept. and many others. He was a member of the Bishop Gun Club and enjoyed monthly trap shoots with friends. He was a friend to many and loved to joke and tease.
Dave is survived by his wife Karen, his brother Tom, his daughter Susan (Varouj), his son Mike (Debbie); his stepson Dave; his stepson Jeff (Kimberly); his stepdaughter Tracy; 7 grandchildren; a niece and a nephew.
His family would like to thank the many friends for the home visits and love in the last few months. A very special thank you to an amazing redheaded nurse and angel.
In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to Inyo County Search and Rescue or the Bishop Volunteer Fire Dept.
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Culvers has always been the first stop in Bishop in these many decades of pilgrimage to the Eastern Sierra. In the past decade, it was a greater privilege to be a neighbor of sorts to Dave as well as a continued customer looking again and again for that spruce fly matuka , that size
14 perfect olive wooly bugger with some flash, wigwam socks, worms, panther martins, everything needed for everyone and so much more.
Culvers was Dave Smith. He was everything to everybody. He was good luck, great cheer to every customer I ever saw. You left with a certain kind of confidence with great advice, with his blessing for your adventure. I hope for and say a prayer now for his adventure and trust the light of who he is, continues to shine on his loved ones and all the rest of us. Thank You Dave.
Mr.Smith always a nice guy and great help when I’d go into his store and buy supplies for a camping and fishing trip up north…