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WILLIAM SMOOT Obituary
WILLIAM NORRIS SMOOT (Age 91)
On Sunday, May 12, 2019 of Chevy Chase Village, MD. Beloved husband of Jane Shaw Smoot for almost 65 years; beloved father of Douglas (Elaine), Martin, Jeffrey, Melissa, and Pamela Smoot. He is predeceased by his parents Aubrey Cannon and Virginia Norris Smoot and his brother Aubrey Cannon Smoot, Jr.Bill grew up in Georgetown, DE. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1950, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1956. He served at sea, including aircraft carrier duty on USS Oriskany (CV 34) and during the Korean War on USS Princeton (CV 37). An Engineering Duty Officer, he managed modification of USS Oriskany from straight to angled deck carrier and construction of USS Leahy (DLG 16). During the Vietnam War, he served a year as the Navy's Force Maintenance Officer in Saigon. In 1965 he settled in Chevy Chase with his family, and served in various engineering positions at Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) and its predecessor commands. Commander Smoot retired in 1976. He continued to serve the navy as a defense contractor, supporting NAVSEA until 1993. An electrical and naval engineer, Bill was an avid tinkerer, and could fix anything that was broken including the chimes of the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament where he served on the bells committee for many years. He enjoyed time with family and the East Irving St. community. He transitioned to Knollwood Military Retirement Community in 2018 where he made many friends. He dearly loved Jane and was most proud of his children.Family and friends will be received on Sunday, May 19 from 3 to 5 p.m. at Pumphrey's Bethesda-Chevy Chase Funeral Home, 7557 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda MD. Service will be held at All Saints Church, 3 Chevy Chase Circle, Chevy Chase, MD 20815 on Monday, May 20 at 3 p.m. Interment to be scheduled at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Disabled American Veterans, www.dav.org, or American Kidney Fund, www.kidneyfund.org.Please view and sign the family guestbook atwww.pumphreyfuneralhome.com
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Memories and Condolences
for WILLIAM SMOOT
1 Entry
Ray Kidder
May 30, 2019
I first met Bill while employed at Northrop Services in Rosslyn, Virginia in the spring of 1984. At our first meeting, I noticed a resemblance to a Douglas Smoot of my age group whom I knew as a fellow parishioner at a church I was attending in Bethesda, Maryland. I asked if they were related, and he confirmed that Douglas was one of his sons. I had recently graduated with a BS degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Maryland in December of 1983. For my first job out of college, he gave me useful insights for the writing of Engineering Change Proposals that were necessary for my assigned revisions of minesweeper shipbuilding specifications. Bill Smoot was very inspirational, as he gave me useful insights in the usefulness and functions of shipboard equipment, and how military and industrial specifications are used for contracting purposes. He also knew a lot about automotive maintenance and electric motors, and gave me advice on how to properly diagnose and fix my car. He was someone who could find useful employment in a wide range of commercial and military applications, and was a good example of how engineers help the American economy.
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May
19
Calling hours
3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Robert A. Pumphrey Funeral Homes Inc. - Bethesda-Chevy Chase7557 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, MD 20814
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Robert A. Pumphrey Funeral Homes Inc. - Bethesda-Chevy Chase7557 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, MD 20814
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