Gary Lee Smith

Gary Lee Smith

Gary Lee Smith, age 83, passed away at his home in Rhoadesville, Va., on May 25, 2021. He fought a ten year battle with Parkinson's disease, but late stage cancer had the final say. Gary was born on July 29, 1937, the only child of Roland and Doris Smith. He was raised in Winona and Forest Lake, Minn.

Gary earned his Amateur Radio license at the age of 14, which set the stage for a career in communications. After high school he enlisted in the Navy Reserve for two years, serving in Japan, but Navy life wasn't for him. He returned home, earned his associate degree at the University of Minnesota and began work at UNIVAC. He met the woman that captured his heart, Andrea Paul, on a company ski trip.

Gary and Andrea married in 1963 and soon after started a career and family that spanned the globe. Gary would retire from the Central Intelligence Agency after 28 years of service, having been stationed with his family in England, India, Liberia, Paraguay, Japan, Panama, and, of course, the USA. Gary served his community in retirement by delivering Meals on Wheels and flowers. Gary was a parishioner at St. Isidore the Farmer in Orange, VA, and spent his final years at home with his wife Andrea gardening and giving his grandchildren tractor rides.

Gary is survived by his wife, Andrea; sons, Mark (Sherri) Smith of Rapidan, Va., and Brian (Grace) Smith of Rhoadesville, Va.; daughters, Karin Bashore of Roanoke, Va., and Sandra (Jamie) Owens of Winchester, Va.; and grandchildren, Tyler and Jack Owens, Daniel and Anna Bashore, Angelina and Elijah Smith, and Josh, Katie, and Jack Harding.

"This is W0QDP… nice to have known you. 73."

Flowers are welcome or you may make a contribution in Gary's name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Isidore the Farmer Catholic Church in Orange, Va., on Saturday, June 5, 2021, at 11 a.m.

Online guestbook is available at johnsoncares.com.