Dennis Rae Smith

Dennis Rae Smith ~ Beloved of God
Dennis Rae Smith peacefully passed away on December 5, 2025 at his home in Pasadena, California. Dennis was born on October 23, 1961 in Lewisville, Arkansas to the late Lannie Alvin Smith, Sr., and Ardenia Carrigan Smith. He was their third child and baby brother to Lannie Jr, fourteen years older and Gloria, seven years older. In 1965, his family moved to Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Dennis had an especially close relationship with his father. From the day Dennis left for college until a stroke late in life silenced his voice, Dennis' father called him every Saturday morning at exactly 7am. Dennis was at his father's bedside in 2012, when he took his last breath. When his mother passed during the Covid pandemic in September of 2020, Dennis traveled to Arkansas for the funeral.

Dennis came to faith in Jesus at an early age. A member of Indiana Street Baptist Church, he participated in the youth activities, which included scouting. Being a member of the church's Boy Scouts troop ignited a life-long desire for maintaining high moral integrity and persevering. Dennis loved Bible study and participated with Bible-study Fellowship International. One year, he insisted that his children attend the year-long BSF session on the gospel of Matthew. As teenagers, they did not want to go, but respected Dennis enough to comply. Dennis connected with a local church wherever he lived, tithing to help spread the gospel.

In 1980, Dennis graduated from Pine Bluff High School where he excelled in academics and lettered in basketball. Dennis received an engineering scholarship to Oklahoma State University. After two years, Dennis wanted to be more than 'just a number' at a large university and transferred from OSU to Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. His first day on the SMU campus, Dennis met his future wife, Penny Harris, who checked him into the dorm. While at SMU, Dennis studied hard and occasionally attended sporting events and campus parties. He interned with Vought Industries and Apple Manufacturing, and was an active member of the National Society of Black Engineers.

Dennis graduated from SMU in May 1985, with a degree in Electrical Engineering, and began his corporate career with Rockwell International, in Instrumentation Testing. He married Penny on August 31, 1985 at Perkins Chapel on the SMU campus, and moved into their first home in Plano, Texas. Outside of work, Dennis discovered his passion for Tae-kwon-do, earning a Brown Belt and many trophies. The adjustment to adulthood was helped by eating Peanut M&M's while paying the monthly bills.

In 1991, Dennis joined General Mills as a Process Controls Engineer, at their corporate headquarters in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The move north was a big adjustment, requiring extensive travel and acclimating to harsh winters. The biggest adjustment was becoming a father on November 10, 1992. From the moment Dennis held Shane Joshua Smith, who arrived prematurely weighing less than 5 pounds, Dennis was determined to be the best father possible. To eliminate his work travel, Dennis accepted a Team Technical Leader position at a General Mills plant in Covington, Georgia. A year after the move, Dennis welcomed his daughter, Paris Camille Smith, on November 22, 1994. Having two children in two years increased the need for work-life balance and resulted in another corporate relocation. In 1995, Dennis accepted a Sr. Project Engineer position with Monsanto and moved his family from Georgia to St. Louis, Missouri. It was their third move in five years.

Education was extremely important to Dennis, for both himself and his children. He rarely missed a teacher conference, assembly, or special event from pre-school performances until Shane and Paris' college graduations. Dennis was a life-long student committed to self-improvement. While employed with Boeing, Dennis earned his Master Degree in Engineering Management from Washington University in 2009. Over the course of his career, he participated in Toastmasters International clubs.

Dennis supported whatever his children chose to pursue. He was the dad who planned family vacations around World yo-yo competitions for Shane and drove Paris to Chicago in the winter for the Japanese language exam. Dennis was a dedicated Boy Scouts Troop Leader and took great pride in watching his son received the Eagle Scout Award, the highest scouting achievement. Dennis loved team sports and believed that participating on them built character. He insisted that Shane and Paris play a team sport until they reached high school, when it would become their choice. Dennis was at every basketball and volleyball game.
Once it became obvious that his children did not inherit his athletic desires or competitive gene, he turned to supporting colligate and professional sports team. He got season tickets for him and Penny to attend St. Louis University's basketball games. He was an early believer in Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, traveling to their games. He was also a proud SMU alum, and returned to campus annually to attend football or basketball games.

After being such a hands-on father, the empty nest was challenging. In 2020, Dennis took a separation package from Boeing and relocated to Pasadena, CA to be closer to Shane and Paris. Even though they were both adults, pursuing their careers, he wanted to be close, just in case they needed him. It did not take long for Dennis to adjust to the southern California life style. He enjoyed hiking in the state parks and biking on the numerous trails. He even abandoned his five-decade long commitment to Honda cars for a Tesla. In 2022, Dennis joined Northrop Grumman, the bookend to his career. August 31st marked his 40th wedding anniversary. Near the end of life, Dennis found comfort in having his family all together in the same room.

Dennis is survived by his wife, Penny Harris Smith; his children, Shane Joshua Smith and Paris Camille Smith; his brother, Lannie Alvin Smith II (Sheryl); his sister Gloria Early (Clifton), his niece Carey Smith and nephew Lannie Alvin Smith III. A private burial will be held in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.