John Benjamin Smith Jr.

John was born on July 1, 1940, in Ardmore, Oklahoma to John and Evelyn Smith.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Donna; their four children, Leah Ann (Rick), Christine “Eliane” Bray (Steve), Timothy Smith (Tammie), and Ewa Kear (Todd); ten grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents and younger brother, D. Royce Smith.

In the early 1940’s John’s family migrated to Arvin, California, where he grew up. He graduated from Arvin High in 1958 and enlisted in the Navy, serving for ten years. While serving, John answered God’s call to the ministry. The Navy offered him a Chaplaincy; however, he felt a strong desire to serve the Free Will Baptist denomination in which he’d been raised. He moved his family to Nashville and attended Free Will Baptist Bible College for three years, then returned to Fresno, California to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from California Christian College in 1973. He continued to further his education, obtaining a Master of Ministry degree from California Christian College in 1990. Ordained as a minister, John dedicated his life to ministry as a pastor, church planter, home missionary and five years as the President of California Christian College.

John’s ministry touched countless lives across generations. He delighted in God’s creation and enjoyed hiking, fishing, hunting and spending time on the California coast. After retiring from full-time ministry in 2021, he and Donna continued to enjoy the life they built together and especially treasured traveling, both at home and abroad, and hosting or visiting family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Plant California www.plantcali.com