John Walter Smith Jr.

John Walter Smith, Jr., 88 years old, was born on December 15, 1930 to the late John Walter Smith and Felix Cecelia Smith in St. Mary's County, MD. He departed this life on Sunday, June 2, 2019. John graduated from Jarboesville High School in 1947. He was married to Esther Leona Harris. From this union they had four children - Tracy A. (Jon Bingham), Brian (Nancy), Gwen Smith Riley and John III (Djuna). John was a life-time member of St. Luke United Methodist Church. He served a two-year term in the U.S. Marine Corp. After his military service, John worked at the Indian Head Powder Company, Indian Head, MD. He later went to work at Patuxent Naval Air Station, from where he retired after many years of service. John loved gardening, fishing and taking care of stray critters. His pastime was to just sit on his John Deere tractor like it was a recliner and staring into the trees and sky. He always wore overalls, sometimes while wearing a tie. Other favorite enjoyments were listening to his nieces sing and lead the choir and always sharing a good story; talking about his past adventures and watching cowboy shows including Gun Smoke, Rifleman and others. John worked hard and taught his sons to work hard as well. He would always quiz the grandkids if they could read, write and count to 10. John always had eyeglasses, two pencils, two pens and a small notebook in shirt pocket; just in case. John was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Beatrice Smith and Elmira Davis and one brother, Leonard Calvin Smith. He is survived by his wife, Esther Smith; four children, Tracy, Brian, Gwen, and John III, two sisters, Eva Statesman (Alfred) and Mary Moore (Orlando) and one brother, Frank Smith (Mary); seven grandchildren, Charles, Ashley, Keith, Justin, Raven, Jael, and John IV, 12 great grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends. Family and friends will unite on Friday, June 7, 2019 for visitation at 9:30 am until time of service at 10:30 am at St. Luke United Methodist Church, 12880 Point Lookout Road, Scotland, MD 20687. Interment to follow at Evergreen Memorial Gardens, 22020 Chancellors Run Rd, Lexington Park, Maryland 20653.