Thomas Frank SMITH Jr.

SMITH, Mr. Thomas Frank Jr., an Exxon executive, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday morning, September 22, 2009. He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Doris Elise Strickland Smith; his daughter, Pamela Ann Williams and her husband, Louis; his son, Thomas F. Smith III "Terry" and his wife, Marilyn. He is also survived by four wonderful grandchildren, Peyton Ann Smith of Charleston, S.C., Thomas F. Smith IV of Charleston, S.C., Brittany Elise Williams and Pamela Danielle Williams, both of Washington, D.C. Mr. Smith graduated from Petersburg High School and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and University in Industrial Engineering. While attending Virginia Tech, he remained active in the German Club and the Cadet Corps and established the Thomas F. Smith Jr. Scholarship for Cadet Corps. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps in WWII in the Pacific Theater. He received the Purple Heart on the Iwo Jima. Mr. Smith retired from Exxon Corporation USA after 40 years of service with a four year tour of London, England as Marketing Manager for all of Western Europe. He retired in Memphis, Tenn. in 1984. Mr. Smith was civically active throughout his career. He served on the Boards of Chamber of Commerce, Red Cross, Boy Scouts of America and the United Way. President of Junior Achievement in Charlotte, N.C. Longtime member of Rotary in many cities including West Richmond Rotary. After coming back to Virginia after retirement, he was a member of Third Presbyterian Church. The family will receive friends 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Bliley's - Central, 3801 Augusta Ave. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Friday at Third Presbyterian Church, 600 Forest Ave., Richmond, Va. 23229. Dr. Steven J. Hartman and Dr. Nelson Ould officiating. Graveside service will be 3 p.m. Friday at Blanford Cemetery, Petersburg, Va. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Third Presbyterian Church or Virginia Tech Foundation, memo memory of T. Frank Smith Jr., Virginia Tech University Development - 0336, Blacksburg, Va. 24061, attn. Corps of Cadets.
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.