John Henry Smith

1950 - 2026

Air Force Stafford Sergeant, John H. Smith passed away on January 23, 2026. He is now flying high.

John was born January 2, 1950 in Batavia NY to Lois Desson Smith (deceased) and Albert Smith (deceased). He grew up listening to the Grand Ole Opry on an old Philco radio along with his siblings Louise Smith, Rick Smith, Clayton Smith, and Rose Roger's (deceased).

In 1969, he felt the call of duty and enlisted in the US Air Force, where he flew a desk in the finance department. He served in Vietnam during the war, Okinawa, Germany, and many stations in the U.S.

In 1976, he met, fell in love with, and married Dora (Steele) Smith (deceased). He then adopted her two sons, Jimmy Smith (deceased) and Greg Smith and raised them as his own. Their daughter, Tammy (Smith) Sears, came along a year later.

The Air Force led him to his favorite place in the world, Nashville Tn and the home of country music. His last duty station was a recruiting office in Nashville. Just before retirement, he decided to move the family to Clarksville Tn near Nashville and Fort Campbell Army Post. In 1989, he retired from the Air Force after 20 years of military service.

During the years between then and now, he traveled, went to lots of country music concerts, enjoyed getting singers autographs, graduated from Austin Peay State University in Mass communications, did a little dj-ing at the Beaver Radio Station, telling jokes and stories to anyone who'd listen, and enjoyed time with his family including his son-in-law, Todd Sears, and daughter-in-law Josie Smith, and grandchildren (Chase Smith, Tabby Sears, and Tyler Sears). In his last years, he lived in Decatur Tn, where he found a community he loved.

In his last week on this earth, he lived out a joke he told often. He would say, "When I die, I want to wear my boots so when I kick the bucket, I won't stub my toe on the way out". Well, he broke his arm by kicking a bucket out of his way and loosing his balance. Surgery on the arm went well, but overall it was too much for a heart that was already sick. He would have gotten such a chuckle at that and would want everyone to remember his laughter, good deeds, and love.

A funeral service with military honor guard will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, February 2, 2026, in the chapel of Decatur Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Decatur, Tn.

The family will receive friends from 5 - 7 p.m., prior to the service.