Dr. Francis Smith

LAKEWOOD, Colo. - Dr. Francis Joel Smith, PhD, 48, of Lakewood, Colorado, died on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Francis was born on April 25, 1975, in Bloomington, Indiana. Francis was a research scientist (PhD) in craniofacial embryology; public outreach and advocacy for craniofacial anomalies awareness and had worked at the University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, School of Dental Medicine and the department of Craniofacial Biology, Aurora, Colorado.

Francis was a 1994 graduate of Canterbury High School, Fort Wayne, Indiana University-Purdue University, Fort Wayne, with a BS in Biology in 1998, and a MS of Biology in 2001, King's College London with a BSc Biomedical Science Craniofacial Sciences 2007, University of California San Francisco, PhD Oral & Craniofacial Sciences 2012. Postdoctoral fellowships, University of Calgary, craniofacial 3D imaging/morphometrics 2012-2015, and the University of Colorado Denver, craniofacial genetics & craniofacial public engagement 2015-2023.

Francis was a classical pianist, violinist, artist and enjoyed Star Trek, architecture, aviation, traveling, reading, history and collecting medical antiques.

He is survived by brothers, Thaddeus J. (Connie) Smith, of Albion, Robert W. Smith, of Angola, Raymond W. Smith, of Auburn and James M. (Gail) Smith, of Montpelier, Ohio; sisters, Mary P. (Jim) Wolf, of Columbia City, Ruth D. (Jonathan) Ingram, of Fort Wayne and Megan E. (Doffrey) Billingsley, of Fort Wayne.

He was preceded in death by his father, Robert E. Smith; mother, Betty J. Smith; brothers, Andrew J. Smith, Peter Smith and Joseph Smith; and sister, Joselyn E. Badman.

Visitation will be held on Monday, Nov., 13, 2023, from 5-7:30 p.m., at Pinnington Funeral & Cremation Services, 502 N. Main St., Auburn.

A funeral service for Francis will be held at 5 p.m., with visitation one hour prior, on Tuesday, Nov., 14, 2023, at Lakewood Park Baptist Church, 5555 C.R. 29, Auburn, Indiana.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m., on Wednesday, Nov., 15, 2023, at Christian Union Cemetery, Garrett.

Pastor James Pettit will be officiating.

Memorial donations may be made to Children's Craniofacial Association, 15851 N. Dallas Pkwy., Suite 245, Addison, TX 75001, or at www.ccakids.org.

To sign the online guestbook, visit www.pinningtonfh.com.