Ben Marley Smith

Ben Marley Smith

Ben (Benny) Marley Smith, age 75, passed away on September 24, 2024, at his home in Ruidoso, NM. He was born on March 6, 1949, at St. Mary's Hospital in Roswell, NM, to parents Charles Frederick Smith and Pauline Francis Crossen Smith. 

Ben spent his childhood in Roswell, residing with his parents and three sisters at three different homes, each along Riverside Drive. In junior high, he built a pit in his family’s yard to teach himself pole vaulting, going on to compete as an accomplished athlete in the sport. He fondly described growing up in the Smith household as a wonderful and loving experience. He attended NMMI from 1965 to 1967, where he played football all three years, serving as quarterback and leading his team to a state championship victory in 1965. 

After graduating from NMMI, Ben attended West Point from 1967 to 1971, graduating as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Infantry. His military service took him to Germany for three years, followed by a two-year posting in Monterey, CA. He then transitioned from active duty to the National Guard, continuing his service to the country.

Throughout his life, Ben had a deep passion for medicine. He pursued graduate studies at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, earning two Master's degrees in Microbiology and Business. After UNM, he spent three years in Albuquerque before enrolling at Tufts University in Boston, MA, in 1979 to pursue a degree in Dentistry. He graduated from Tufts in 1980, specializing in Oral Surgery, and continued his education at Washington University in St. Louis, MO. 

Eventually, Ben returned to Roswell, NM, where he established a dental practice that helped countless people across New Mexico. Ben’s philosophy in his practice was always to serve as many people as he could, and that spirit never changed, as Ben voluntarily joined the Navy as an Oral Surgeon at the age of 60. 

Driven by his unwavering commitment to service, he served two tours of duty in the Navy Dental Corps in Kandahar, Afghanistan. There he transitioned from building a successful facial reconstruction practice in Roswell, NM, to serving in a war zone, where he faced the challenges of reconstructing jaws and treating extensive blast injuries. He worked tirelessly to save the lives of service members suffering from severe facial traumas, and it was an experience upon which he often reflected as some of the most important work he had ever done. Always deeply caring and dedicated to all he helped, Ben often followed up on his patients' progress even after they returned to hospitals in the U.S. and Germany. Ben’s humanity, his generosity, and his value to battlefield successes were noted as stand out to all with whom he served during those years. His commanding officer for his first deployment, Michael McCarten, summed it up powerfully: “I speak for the hundreds of men and women from Navy Medicine who served with Ben on the battlefield, from the lowest-ranking Hospital Corpsman to the Rear Admirals, when I tell you, and the entire Smith family, that Ben Smith was a cherished team member who touched all of our lives.”

Ben's dedication to physical fitness and an active lifestyle gave energy to all around him. He was a firm believer in the importance of movement, whether through swimming, running, walking, playing golf, lifting weights or engaging with his grandchildren. 

Ben was a man devoted to his family, his country, and his profession. He is survived by his loving wife, Patti Smith, and his children: Tyler Smith and his wife, Kelli Smith; Ashley Donaldson and her husband, Lance Donaldson; Read Admire; Sam Smith; Max Smith and his wife, Madison Smith; Jack Smith; Auggie Smith; April Anderson and her husband, Jeremy Anderson; and Lauren Cochran and her husband, Kevin Cochran. He leaves behind his sisters, Judy Smith and her husband, Larry Fields; Cherry Ford and her late husband, Ron Ford; and Susan Smith, along with his cherished grandchildren: Trey Donaldson, Jayci Donaldson, Jace Smith, Brody Smith, Charlee Smith, Jake Anderson and Hayley Anderson. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on October 5, 2024 at Grace Community Church at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in his honor to the Wounded Warriors Project.