Obituary for Phillip John Smith, Sr Goad Funeral Home
He paid for his equipment and fees with his hard-earned money including paper routes, yard work, painting neighbors’ houses, working at Rathgebs on the Avenue and the Shell Station at the corner of Harding and Pacific Avenue. After marrying Julie Wager in 1958 they both agreed he should continue his education. Her killer left clues - DNA even - but after 23 years police are still no closer to finding him. The twin brothers were only 84 days old when they died, within hours of each other, after being violently assaulted. The son of sawmill labourer Henry John Smith and his wife Rose Smith (née Luckins), he was the oldest of five siblings. Smith's family lived in Midland Road, where they were neighbours of serial killers Fred and Rosemary West, before moving to Hailes Road on the Coney Hill Estate in 1971. The family had a modest income, and their situation became worse when Smith's father was injured in a motoring accident. Smith attended Coney Hill Infants and Junior School...