Captain Edward Paul Smith

1936 - 2015

SMITH, Capt. Edward P. Captain Edward Paul Smith of Alpharetta, Georgia born December 12, 1936 took his last flight west on March 9, 2015. Ed is survived by his wife of 39 years, Cheryl Barrett Smith. Ed was born in Louisville, Kentucky and resided in California, Washington D.C., and Louisiana. He graduated in 1955 from Jesuit High School in New Orleans, Louisiana. In 1956, he began collegiate studies at the University of San Francisco in California. By 1964, he attained a Bachelor of Science Degree from Loyola University in New Orleans, where he was a member of the Beggars Fraternity. Ed entered the United States Naval Flight Training program in 1958; upon completion, he accepted a commission as a Second Lt. in the United States Marine Corps. He served nine years in the Marine Corps with an honorable discharge at the rank of Captain in 1967. Ed retired from Delta Airlines as an L-1011 International Captain, serving Delta for 33 years from 1964-1997. During his service, he was based out of New Orleans, Dallas, Los Angles, and Atlanta. Ed was a vestry member of St. Thomas of Canterbury Episcopal Church in Thomaston, Georgia. Ed's pride and joy was the rehabilitation of The Elms Plantation, circa 1838, a Greek Revival raised cottage in Talbot County, Georgia. In 2001, Ed was honored by the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation with an award of excellence for complete rehabilitation of The Elms. His profound knowledge of the classics, history, and preservation distinguished Ed in all his many endeavors. Throughout his life, "Fast Eddy" was an avid car enthusiast, winning several awards for building, refurbishing, and maintaining classic exotic cars. Ed is survived by his three children, James Alexander Smith, Claire Smith Thornton, and Stephanie Smith Lievsay; three grandchildren, Jonathan Edward Boman, Elise Nicole Blasingame, and Jack Edward Lievsay; two sisters, Elizabeth Dolores Covey and Mary Alexes Miller; the mother of his children, Barbara Blaine Smith; four nieces, Sarah Miller Corey, Melody Blust Duke, Renee Degioanni Humme, and Emily Elizabeth Mimbs; two nephews, Jared Barrett Briant and Blair Nicholas Briant; three great grandchildren, Haley, Abriella, and Kylah Boman; in-laws, Dr. Ronald Anthony Barrett, Kathleen Langston Barrett, Charlene Barrett Degioanni, Paul Adrian Degioanni, Cynthia Rita Barrett, Karen Barrett Goldenberg, Richard A. Goldenberg, Ronald Anthony Barrett Jr., Cadence Wagner Barrett; and his beloved dachshund Lulu. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research at: https://www.michaeljfox.org/get-involved/donation2.php?pg=tribute