Lawrence Smith

1927 - 2023

Lawrence Smith

Master Chief Petty Officer USN (ret.) Lawrence Benjamin Smith, 96, passed away Dec. 16 after a brief illness. He was born to the late Lawrence Smith and Lillie Smith Pearce on Sept. 25, 1927, in Madison, Florida. He was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and the kindest person one could ever meet.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Maria Angela D'Osualdo Smith; sister, Sarah Smith Soltis; and brother, William "Bill" Pearce.

He is survived by his daughter, Elizabeth Smith of Atlanta, son and daughter-in-law, Anthony and Michele Smith of Troy, Michigan; and son and daughter-in-law, Frederick and Donna Smith of Brunswick. Also surviving are seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, three nieces, a nephew, and other relatives.

Lawrence served with pride in the US Navy aboard the USS Basilone (DDE/DD-824) as a plank owner and was Captain's speaker aboard the USS Little Rock (CLG-4), the flagship of the 6th fleet in Gaeta, Italy. He also served at the U.S. Embassies in Rome, Italy and Santiago, Chile, as well as the Pentagon, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Norfolk, Virginia, among other places.

After retiring from the U.S. Navy, Lawrence worked in the accounting office handling shipping services at Hercules where he also retired. He volunteered many hours of service at the Veteran's Administration of Brunswick.

He enjoyed fishing at the NAS Glynco Base ponds, the Altamaha and Satilla rivers, and the dikes on Hwy. 17. He was also an avid coin collector, and loved to watch golf tournaments and classical movies.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12, 2024, with a reception to follow in the Brunswick Room at Edo Miller.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to Hospice of the Golden Isles.

Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home, www.edomillerandsons.com, is in charge of the arrangements.sdf d fs fa df d fa fds

Family-placed obituary

The Brunswick News, January 6, 2024Name

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