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James Smith Obituary
James Franklin Smith passed away on October 19 at the age of 92 after a few weeks at the Superior Residence, attended by Hospice of Marion County. He was born on April 14, 1928 to the late Walter and Helen (McCleary) Smith in Hagerstown, Maryland. He enlisted in the Marines in March of 1946 during World War II and served state side as Corporal until his honorable discharge in December of 1947.
He received undergraduate degrees from Shepherd College, WVA, a master's degree from the University of Delaware and additional graduate work at Johns Hopkins University, the University of Maryland and the University of Minnesota. He taught at the Wilmington Friends School and in public schools in both Delaware and Maryland for many years. He supervised student teachers in the Social Studies at the University of Delaware. For several years, he was Camp Director for the Youth Conservation Corps in Delaware State Parks during the summer months. Upon retirement from teaching he enjoyed a career as Contract Administrator for the State of Delaware Department of Transportation. In 2004, his family left Newark, Delaware and retired to Ocala, Florida where he enjoyed some fishing, the warm weather, and the company of wonderful friends and church family.
He is survived by his wife Evelyn Diebert Smith for 58 years, and a son Mark (Deborah), eight grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by a son Eric Smith and a daughter Nancy Barnhart.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Ocala. He was an avid reader and enjoyed teaching Sunday School classes at First Baptist Church. He loved participating in the weekly Bible Study Fellowship, and later, the Community Bible Fellowship. His hobbies were playing music and attending the NFL Washington team games. He led his family on numerous camping trips visiting many of the national parks across the country.
A private burial service will be held at Bushnell Veterans Cemetery, at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Marion County, or the First Baptist Church of Ocala.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for James Smith
5 Entries
Angie Crawford
November 14, 2020
I am so sorry to read that Jim passed away. The isolation from c19 has been terrible on so many levels...this included. I certainly enjoyed time with you all at FBC. My prayers for peace and comfort for this profound loss. Angie Crawford
Marines of the Marine Corps League Naples, Florida
October 29, 2020
The U.S. Marines, Navy Fleet Marine Force Corpsmen, FMF Chaplains, and Associate Members of the E. T Brisson Detachment #063 of the Marine Corps League in Naples, Florida, hereby salute and recognize James Franklin Smith for serving God and his country by becoming a United States Marine. We honor his memory and valiant service to our Corps and our great Nation. Please accept our heartfelt sentiments as a token of our esteem and admiration of his L’Esprit du Corps. Semper Fidelis.
John DeCherney
October 26, 2020
Mr. Smith was a teacher of mine at Friends and I remember him with great fondness. He had a terrific sense of humor and was able to be firm without being overbearing. I learned more than American History from him; I learned how to behave. Alev shalom.
David Cress
October 26, 2020
Mr. Smith was among my most influencial teachers at WFS. I was lucky to have been in his audience.
Pamela Hoopes
October 25, 2020
Mr. Smith was my AP U.S. History teacher at Wilmington Friends School in 1972-73. He introduced me to primary source research and a deeper level of thinking, opening a new world to me. He was a very kind and caring person, whose classroom was a welcoming place. And he was quite funny; he famously took ten minute cat naps between classes, a skill he claimed to have mastered on watch duty in the service. I feel very lucky to have known him. Pamela Hoopes
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