Caroline Ruth Smith

Caroline Ruth Smith, 86, passed away peacefully on August 23, 2024, in Fountain Hills, Arizona, surrounded by her family. She was a friend to many and will be missed.

Caroline could light up a room with her smile so well that friends called her "Sunshine." She loved to sing and knew all of the words to a surprising number of songs, adopting "Sweet Caroline" as her personal anthem.

Born January 3, 1938, in Harlan County, Kentucky, Caroline was the daughter of Mossie and Clarence Fore. Her family moved to Ohio during her youth. Caroline graduated with a B.A. in Education from Miami University.

Upon graduation in 1960, she met and married the love of her life, 1st Lt. Dick Smith, in Dayton, Ohio while he was assigned to Wright-Patterson AFB. She enthusiastically embraced military life.

Their first assignment as a young married couple was Edwards AFB, traveling cross-country in Dick's black convertible Mercedes. They became part of the 1960s exciting golden age of Air Force flight testing.

As a military wife, she supported her family while her husband flew two combat tours in Southeast Asia. First, as a new mother stationed in Okinawa, and later in Albuquerque, New Mexico, near Dick's parents, whom she loved dearly. And them, her. She would often say the friends she made in the USAF were family, particularly friends from Edwards AFB and those they served with during the Vietnam War, including the Society of Wild Weasels and the River Rats Fighter Pilots Association.

She was proud of her daughters, Pamela and Monica, and raised them to be strong, independent, confident women influenced by the women's movement of the 1970s. She loved to travel and explored Peru with Pamela and Europe with Monica.

Annual family trips to her treasured Playa Mazatlan Hotel, 1970s-2019, made her a 'repetitivo' favoring room 2001. Her Mazatlan friends included hotel staff, beach vendors and fellow repetitivos.

Caroline enjoyed waking up in the dark to claim a good beach palapa, singing along to "Solamente Una Vez" which she first heard when serenaded by Dick while dating, and visiting with actor Robert Mitchum on the beach.

Caroline's accomplishments included being a top golfer at Edwards AFB (and meeting Jack Nicklaus) and becoming a top producing Albuquerque realtor for 20+ years. She started the Remembering Mandy dog rescue network, advocating for and finding homes for 100+ dogs from Albuquerque animal shelters.

In 2001, Caroline and Dick moved to Green Valley, Arizona, attracted by its resort feel, warm weather and mountain views. In Green Valley, Caroline devoted more time to her arts, specifically the clay club. Caroline's artistic talents continue to bring joy through her pottery and beaded necklaces given to friends and family. Caroline moved to Fountain Hills in 2020 to be closer to family.

She is survived by two daughters Pamela Smith of Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Monica (Smith) Mullen (Dan) of Fountain Hills, Arizona; and beloved dog Olive. She is now rejoined with those who passed before her, husband Colonel Richard (Dick) Edward Smith (USAF Ret); parents Mossie and Clarence Fore; sister Winifred (Fore) Lynch; brother William Fore; parents-in-law Edward and Ellen La Vada (McCanlies) Smith; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Richard and Shirley Hicks; many nieces and nephews; and beloved dogs.

Caroline will be reunited with her husband at the Santa Fe National Cemetery on October 24. A celebration of life will be held in Albuquerque on October 23. She lived her life well, with enthusiasm matched only by her confidence.

The family requests you honor Caroline's memory by donating in her name to either your favorite animal shelter or the River Rats Fighter Pilots Association.