Joel Edward Smith

1944 - 2022

DELAND - Joel Edward Smith, 78, died Dec. 22, 2022. A memorial service will be set for a later time.
Born Dec. 1, 1944, in Dublin, Georgia, the son of James Edward Smith and Ethel Mae Nelson Smith, Joel moved to this area from Fern Park.
He attended Georgia Military Academy, and studied engineering in the U.S. Navy.
Joel was a career naval officer, who rose to the rank of master chief. He was affiliated with the SEAL Team and completed most of the SEAL Team training. Following that, he was a trainer and planner for SEAL Team activities.
Joel was a trained photogrammetrist for the Navy. His orders were to take aerial photos of enemy locations and interpret them for officers at the Pentagon and elsewhere. He served in Vietnam and Desert Storm.
Joel was the recipient of the National Defense Service Medal, the Navy Unit commendation, the Navy Expeditionary Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the fifth Good Conduct Medal for the period ending July '89 and the Navy Achievement Medal. He was a career Navy recruiter, and retired following 28 total years in the service.
He worked for a time as a landscape artist and participated in the creation of the entry landscaping at Walt Disney World at the time of its opening.
Joel loved animals and plants, and liked to collect coins. He was a sort of a Renaissance man, who mastered every task he undertook. He was also a champion bowman and a sharpshooter.
Joel is survived by his wife of 26 years, Jan, a son, Joel Edward Smith Jr. of Georgia, a daughter, Renee Michelle Smith of Georgia, five brothers, two sisters who live in Florida, and grandchildren.
Joel always secretly helped out with needy and sick children who were fighting courageously. Memorial donations are encouraged to help in this area.
Lankford is in charge.