Well-known obstetrician, gynecologist passes away
Dr. Louis “Lou” John Smith passed away Thursday at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, where he served as an obstetrician and gynecologist. He was 93.
Born and raised in East Helena, Mont., he was a resident of Sherman Oaks for the past 57 years.
Smith served in the U.S. Navy during World War II at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, as a pharmacist mate and lab technician.
After the war, he courted and then married Dorothy Ann Karbus, who was the sister of a nurse friend assigned to the hospital in Pearl Harbor.
He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Montana in 1950 and a medical degree from the University of Oregon in 1952.
Smith served his internship and residency in obstetrics/gynecology at Queen of Angels Hospital in Los Angeles.
He was later on the medical staff at Valley Presbyterian Hospital, Holy Cross Hospital in the San Fernando Valley, St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica and Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, where he served as chairman of the obstetrics /gynecology department.
He also served on the Providence St. Joseph Foundation’s board of trustees. He was a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, a diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and a member of the American Fertility Society.
Smith is credited with the delivery of more than 10,000 babies during his career, more than 9,000 at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center alone.
In 1988, he received a commendation for his service to the city of Burbank and surrounding communities from then Mayor Michael Hastings and the Burbank City Council.
Smith was known for supporting philanthropic and spiritual causes that included donations to his medical alma mater, the University of Oregon, the St. Joseph Medical Foundation, numerous social and Catholic charities, and his local Catholic parish, St. Francis de Sales.
He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Dorothy Ann Karbus, and their six children, Kevin, Karen, Lisa, Michelle, Christopher and Robert; four grandchildren; one great-grandchild; his sister, Bertie Bisson; sister-in-law, Marie Karbus and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday at Angeleno Mortuary, 5948 Van Nuys Blvd., Van Nuys, with a rosary at 7 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday at Holy Cross Cemetery, 5835 W. Slauson Ave., Culver City
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the maternal child health department at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center, 501 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank.
JOYCE RUDOLPH can be reached at rudolphjoyce10@gmail.com.