Stanley Lance Smith

Stan L. Smith of New Smyrna Beach and DeLand, Florida — husband, father, brother, and friend — passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of January 25, 2026, at the Halifax Health Hospice Center in Port Orange, Florida. Born in 1967 in Jacksonville, Florida, to Lance E. and Anne Connell Smith. Stan lived in Inverness until his elementary school years before moving to Ocala. He graduated from Forest High School in 1985, where he met the love of his life, Renee Ringgold. He went on to earn a degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Florida in 1991.

Stan enjoyed a long career designing everything from plastic injection molds to components for laser eye surgery equipment, aviation parts, and various defense industry products throughout Central Florida. He loved all things mechanical — from concept and design to testing, machining and final delivery. Stan loved spending his weekends at Gator football games, at his family’s lakeside property in Ocklawaha and later enjoying his time in New Smyrna Beach. He cherished sharing his passions with his children and will always be remembered for his ear to ear grin.

He is survived by his wife, Renee Ringgold Smith; their two children, Mason Smith of Winter Park, FL, and Hayden Smith of Houston, TX; and his sister, Alice Edwards of Chipley, FL. Stan’s legacy lives on in the unwavering loyalty he showed to those he loved and in the immense pride he carried for his sons.

A celebration of life will be held in the spring.