Sonny Gordon Smith
December 14, 1932 - March 4, 2006
Sonny passed away at his home in Acampo, CA. He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Alberta Smith of Acampo; children Gordon Smith of Lodi, Sandy Schmidt of Troy, IL, Pappy Smith of Lodi, Danny Strehlow of Oregon, Crisiti Lyons of Lodi; sister Loa Castro and brother G.B. Smith, both of Gilroy; nine grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his nephews Gordon Castro of San Jose, Dennis Castro of Newman, Richard Castro of Gilroy, and niece Patty Alvarez of Gilroy.
Sonny was born in Kenilworth, Utah, to Gordon and Lauretta Smith. The family moved to California in 1936, where Sonny attended Gilroy schools. He later served in the U. S. Navy from 1949 to 1953, assigned to the Heavy Attack Squadron Two. In 1956, Sonny made his debut with the International Auto Daredevils. He toured with them throughout the U.S. and Mexico, Canada, and Cuba. He was recognized as the best in his field of stunt driving. Sonny was the lead off driver in hell driving and precision driving, doing such stunts as the "Slide for Life" and the "T-Bone Crash." He and his daredevil buddies would create a stir whenever they came into town, performing stunts in front of the old Silver Spur Restaurant in their suped-up red and white Dodges.
Sonny owned and operated Sonny's Auto Stereo, the first of its kind in Gilroy in the late 1960s. He was employed as a truck driver for Moretti Trucking and other trucking firms for 40 years, retiring from Cherokee Tank Lines in Lodi. He was a member of Woodbridge Community Church.
Sonny was a loving person with a cheerful disposition and an exuberance for life. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Committal held at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetary. Services provided by: Rocha's Mortuary.
December 14, 1932 - March 4, 2006
Sonny passed away at his home in Acampo, CA. He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Alberta Smith of Acampo; children Gordon Smith of Lodi, Sandy Schmidt of Troy, IL, Pappy Smith of Lodi, Danny Strehlow of Oregon, Crisiti Lyons of Lodi; sister Loa Castro and brother G.B. Smith, both of Gilroy; nine grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his nephews Gordon Castro of San Jose, Dennis Castro of Newman, Richard Castro of Gilroy, and niece Patty Alvarez of Gilroy.
Sonny was born in Kenilworth, Utah, to Gordon and Lauretta Smith. The family moved to California in 1936, where Sonny attended Gilroy schools. He later served in the U. S. Navy from 1949 to 1953, assigned to the Heavy Attack Squadron Two. In 1956, Sonny made his debut with the International Auto Daredevils. He toured with them throughout the U.S. and Mexico, Canada, and Cuba. He was recognized as the best in his field of stunt driving. Sonny was the lead off driver in hell driving and precision driving, doing such stunts as the "Slide for Life" and the "T-Bone Crash." He and his daredevil buddies would create a stir whenever they came into town, performing stunts in front of the old Silver Spur Restaurant in their suped-up red and white Dodges.
Sonny owned and operated Sonny's Auto Stereo, the first of its kind in Gilroy in the late 1960s. He was employed as a truck driver for Moretti Trucking and other trucking firms for 40 years, retiring from Cherokee Tank Lines in Lodi. He was a member of Woodbridge Community Church.
Sonny was a loving person with a cheerful disposition and an exuberance for life. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Committal held at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetary. Services provided by: Rocha's Mortuary.
Sonny Gordon Smith
December 14, 1932 - March 4, 2006
Sonny passed away at his home in Acampo, CA. He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Alberta Smith of Acampo; children Gordon Smith of Lodi, Sandy Schmidt of Troy, IL, Pappy Smith of Lodi, Danny Strehlow of Oregon, Crisiti Lyons of Lodi; sister Loa Castro and brother G.B. Smith, both of Gilroy; nine grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his nephews Gordon Castro of San Jose, Dennis Castro of Newman, Richard Castro of Gilroy, and niece Patty Alvarez of Gilroy.
Sonny was born in Kenilworth, Utah, to Gordon and Lauretta Smith. The family moved to California in 1936, where Sonny attended Gilroy schools. He later served in the U. S. Navy from 1949 to 1953, assigned to the Heavy Attack Squadron Two. In 1956, Sonny made his debut with the International Auto Daredevils. He toured with them throughout the U.S. and Mexico, Canada, and Cuba. He was recognized as the best in his field of stunt driving. Sonny was the lead off driver in hell driving and precision driving, doing such stunts as the "Slide for Life" and the "T-Bone Crash." He and his daredevil buddies would create a stir whenever they came into town, performing stunts in front of the old Silver Spur Restaurant in their suped-up red and white Dodges.
Sonny owned and operated Sonny's Auto Stereo, the first of its kind in Gilroy in the late 1960s. He was employed as a truck driver for Moretti Trucking and other trucking firms for 40 years, retiring from Cherokee Tank Lines in Lodi. He was a member of Woodbridge Community Church.
Sonny was a loving person with a cheerful disposition and an exuberance for life. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Committal held at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetary. Services provided by: Rocha's Mortuary.
December 14, 1932 - March 4, 2006
Sonny passed away at his home in Acampo, CA. He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Alberta Smith of Acampo; children Gordon Smith of Lodi, Sandy Schmidt of Troy, IL, Pappy Smith of Lodi, Danny Strehlow of Oregon, Crisiti Lyons of Lodi; sister Loa Castro and brother G.B. Smith, both of Gilroy; nine grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his nephews Gordon Castro of San Jose, Dennis Castro of Newman, Richard Castro of Gilroy, and niece Patty Alvarez of Gilroy.
Sonny was born in Kenilworth, Utah, to Gordon and Lauretta Smith. The family moved to California in 1936, where Sonny attended Gilroy schools. He later served in the U. S. Navy from 1949 to 1953, assigned to the Heavy Attack Squadron Two. In 1956, Sonny made his debut with the International Auto Daredevils. He toured with them throughout the U.S. and Mexico, Canada, and Cuba. He was recognized as the best in his field of stunt driving. Sonny was the lead off driver in hell driving and precision driving, doing such stunts as the "Slide for Life" and the "T-Bone Crash." He and his daredevil buddies would create a stir whenever they came into town, performing stunts in front of the old Silver Spur Restaurant in their suped-up red and white Dodges.
Sonny owned and operated Sonny's Auto Stereo, the first of its kind in Gilroy in the late 1960s. He was employed as a truck driver for Moretti Trucking and other trucking firms for 40 years, retiring from Cherokee Tank Lines in Lodi. He was a member of Woodbridge Community Church.
Sonny was a loving person with a cheerful disposition and an exuberance for life. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Committal held at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetary. Services provided by: Rocha's Mortuary.
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