Commander Clifford Ross Smith USN (Ret.)

Commander Clifford Ross Smith, USN (Ret.), age 72, died Dec. 26, 2003 at the Prince William Hospital of complications of emphysema. He was born Aug. 24, 1931, the youngest child of Ross Clark and Grace Nolte Smith in Rockville, Mo. He graduated from the University of Missouri in June 1952, received a commission as a naval officer three months before his 21st birthday, which he spent the light cruiser, Juneau, in Korean waters. He went into flight training and spent the remainder of his naval career as a naval aviator in antisubmarine squadrons for which he received the Bronze Star. He retired from the Navy in 1977 to work for ALM where he became vice president of systems support division before leaving to work for ISI. He was active as a Boy Scout committeeman and after he retired was active in the Bull Run/Evergreen Lions Club where he was the recipient of the Melvin Jones Award, the highest award given in Lionism. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Lenore. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; two children, Dexter Smith and wife, Susan and Deborah Perdue and husband, John; six grandchildren, Charles and Emily Smith, Jack, Hunter, Rachel and Nicole Perdue; and his brothers, Emerson Smith of Centerview, Mo. and Byron Smith of Kansas City, Mo. The family will receive friends Jan. 2 at the Lee Funeral Home, 8521 Sudley Road, Manassas from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will take place at the Ft. Myers Chapel on Thursday, Feb. 19 at 1 p.m. with burial at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Bull Run/Evergreen Lions Club, P.O. Box 1133, Haymarket, VA 20169. Sign the guestbook at http://www.potomacnews.com.