Harold Whitbeck "Smitty" Smith

Harold Whitbeck Smith Harold Whitbeck "Smitty" Smith, 85, a professional manager in the restaurant business, died Monday, June 12, 2006. The service will be at 2 p.m. EDT June 23 at St. John's Episcopal Church. Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home, Riggins Road Chapel (850-877-8191) is handling arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to St. John's Episcopal Church Foundation, 211 N. Monroe St., Tallahassee, FL 32301, or TallahasseeÐLeon County Animal Shelter, 1124 Easterwood Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32311. Smitty was born June 17, 1920, in Weehawken, N.J. He was a veteran of World War II. In 1949, he married Maxine Shaffer and became the stepfather to her two children, Barbara and Kenneth. Smitty moved to Fort Lauderdale to begin working in the restaurant business. He operated The Melody Lane Restaurant on Sunrise Boulevard, Club Lounge in Lauderdale By The Sea and the famous Smitty's Driftwood Club of Boca Raton and also commuted to Cape Cod, Mass., to serve as manager for the Flying Bridge Restaurant during the summer months. Some time later, Smitty and Maxine moved to the Bahamas where he was the maitreÕd for the Freeport Grand Lucayan Beach Resort and Casino. He moved to Greenville, S.C., to be near his beloved Smokey Mountains and still serve in the restaurant business. He became the manager of the Talk of the Town restaurant and worked there for approximately 10 years. Later on, he worked at Vince Peron's restaurant as food and beverage manager, and eventually wrapping up his career at the exclusive Poinsette Club of Greenville. After retiring from full-time management positions, Smitty continued to work part-time for the Hyatt and Marriott hotels in Greenville. He was a member of the International Food Service Executives Association. Maxine and Harold moved closer to family, and they relocated to Tallahassee in early 2001. Survivors include two children, Kenneth S. Shaffer (and wife Judy and children Kenneth, Steven, Daniel, Lura and Robb Shaffer) of Fort Lauderdale and Barbara Low (and husband Bob and children Bobby, Sharon and Susan Low) of Epping, N.H.; and 15 great-grandchildren. Harold Smith was preceded in death by his wife of more than 50 years, Maxine Smith. "He was loved by all of us."