Peter Lawrence Smith

Smith, Peter Lawrence COLONIE Peter Lawrence Smith, 90, passed away on Sunday, January 4, 2009. Born on January 21, 1918 in Troy, he was the son of the late Thomas and Sarah McGarry Smith. He was predeceased in 1984 by his beloved wife, Virginia Berry Smith. Mr. Smith enlisted in the United States Navy shortly after Pearl Harbor. He completed 167 wartime flying missions as an Avenger Torpedo Bomber Radioman while assigned to squadron VT-28. He was based at Henderson Field on Guadalcanal and aboard the USS Monterey (CVL-27), earning combat aircrew wings with three stars. Peter graduated from Troy Business School and also attended Siena College. He retired from the New York State Department of Labor as supervisor of unemployment insurance accounts examiners in 1981 after 43 years of service. After his retirement, he was a dedicated father and grandfather. He is survived by three sons, Chris (Beth) Smith of Delmar, Terence (Gina Nunziato) Smith of Albany and James Smith of Clifton Park; two daughters, Virginia Smith of Richmond, Va. and Margaret (Mike) Shea of Halfmoon; 13 grandchildren, Gregory (Rose) Smith, Jennifer Smith, Laura (Peter) Giorgio, Virginia Lea (Robert) Smith Rosborough, Emily Smith, Sarah Smith, Heather Smith, Thomas Smith, Barbara Shea, Stefanie Smith, Danielle Shea, Giavana Smith and William Peter Shea; daughters-in-law, Bernice Smith and Loretta Smith; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by three sons, Thomas Smith, Peter L. Smith Jr. and Martin Smith; six sisters, Catherine Monahan, Mary Smith, Louise Manning, Helen Sullivan, Anna Smith and Jane Tyrrell; and one brother, Thomas Smith. Funeral 8:00 o'clock Friday morning from the Reilly & Son Funeral Home, Colonie and at 9:00 o'clock at the Church of St. Clare, 1947 Central Ave., Colonie. Burial will be in St. Joseph's Cemetery in Troy. Calling hours will be Thursday from 49 p.m. in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 260 Osborne Rd., Albany, NY 12211 or the American Heart Association, 440 New Karner Rd., Albany, NY 12205. reillyandsonfuneralhome.com