POULSBO — Lindley H. Smith, a lifelong sports enthusiast who helped start North Kitsap Babe Ruth Baseball, died Jan. 15 surrounded by his family. He was 90.

He was born Sept. 16, 1921 in Wenatchee to Mack and Ethel Smith and was raised in Miller River and Arlington. He graduated from Arlington High School in 1939.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, he entered the Army Air Force and spent the war in the South Pacific, mostly in New Guinea. He was very proud of his military service in the 41st Fighter Squadron.

After the war, while attending the University of Washington, he married Georgiana (Toni) Handy. He graduated with a degree in forestry in 1949. During his career, he worked for the U.S. Forest Service, the Puget Sound Log Scaling Bureau, and was log distributing manager for Pope & Talbot for 26 years, retiring in 1985.

Mr. Smith served as president of the Log Scaling Bureau and president of the North Kitsap Credit Union. He served as president of North Kitsap Little League for four years and president of the Babe Ruth League for 19 years. He also was the president of the North Kitsap High School Sports Booster Club in 1967 and was instrumental in obtaining the current football stadium.

He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed camping, fishing and hunting.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Toni; his daughter, Linda Wickstrom (Wayne); son, Greg (Shana); son, Richard (Bonnie); daughter, Janice Spencer (Dan); eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; sister, Maxine Scher of Enumclaw; and brother, Mack Smith of Oregon City, Ore. He was preceded in death by four brothers.

Memorial service is scheduled Jan. 28, 1 p.m., at the Hood Canal Vista Pavilion in Port Gamble. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to North Kitsap Babe Ruth, PO Box 1746, Poulsbo, WA 98370.

View the online memorial at www.poulsbomortuary.com.