Thomas E. "Tim" Smyth, 90, passed away peacefully at his home in Newbury Park on the morning of September 13, 2016 following a lengthy illness. He was surrounded by his family and friends. Tim was born November 30, 1925 in Santa Monica, California to Thomas L. and Helen M. (Fisher) Smyth. In 1942 he joined the United States Marine Corps and served with honor and distinction, engaging in Combat in World War II in Okinawa and also in the Korean War. He achieved the rank of 1st Lieutenant, received the Purple Heart and remained in the Marine Corp Reserve until his discharge in 1954.
Upon returning to civilian life Tim met and married Janet Haight and found employment at Disney Studios as an animatronics imagineer. He went on to work as a props designer and a pyro-technitian for CBS studios. Among his impressive credits is the legendary TV Show the "Wild Wild West" where he served as Special Effects Chief for the shows four season run and designed the well known "sleeve gun" and "boot switchblade" carried by secret service agent James West.
He was also the principal designer and rigger of "the Sun-Ritual Effect" which was the center piece of the classic western film "A Man Called Horse".
Tim was a modest man and rarely spoke of his many contributions to film and television history. It was his time as a marine of which he was the most proud. But even then he seldom discussed his time in service. He carried that pride with a quiet dignity from the moment he first dawned the uniform until the morning he slipped quietly from his mortal life. In addition to his parents Thomas and Helen Tim was preceded in death by his wife Janet.
He is survived by his sister Tamara Williams; his son Dr. Timothy Smyth of Santa Clarita; and daughter Kristin of Thousand Oaks.
Following in Tim's modest tradition there will be no services.