Ltc James Kelly (Ret.) Smith, Sr.
July 1, 1937 — October 9, 2015
LTC (Ret.) James Kelly Smith, Sr., 78, of Columbus, GA died Friday, October 9, 2015 at his residence.
Funeral services with full military honors will be held 2:00 PM Sunday, October 11, 2015 at Wynnbrook Baptist Church 500 River Knoll Way, Columbus, GA, 31904 with Dr. Kevin Calhoun and Dr. Craig Bowers officiating. A private family interment will be held at Ft. Benning Main Post Cemetery. The family will receive friends Sunday afternoon from 1:00 to 2:00 PM in the conference center at the church according to McMullen Funeral Home 3874 Gentian Blvd., Columbus, GA, 31907.
LTC (Ret.) Smith was born July 7, 1937, in LaGrange, GA, to the late Quentin Vestin "Pete" Smith and Doris Estes Smith. He attended Mercer University, where he met his future wife, Karen "Kay" Hadaway. After graduating with an AB in Economics and the ROTC program in 1960, he entered in the Army and served 25 years. He served stateside and abroad including Alaska, Germany, and Vietnam.
LTC (Ret.) Smith was highly decorated, including his highest honor, the Bronze Star. He retired from the Army in 1985, and subsequently served as the Vice President and Regional Manager of the world wide Military Banking operation for Columbus Bank and Trust Company in Columbus, GA. He retired from CB&T in 2002.
Following his second retirement, he volunteered in the administrative and finance area of Wynnbrook Baptist Church where he was an active member since coming to Columbus in 1981. In September 2003, he was asked to accept the position of Chief Administrative Officer of the church, where he served until May 2008. He also served in various positions throughout the years and was a member of the Finance Committee and Deacons Committee.
He loved traveling with Betty, working outdoors, and believe it or not, getting up at 4:30 four days a week to head to the YMCA.
Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife of 46 years, Karen Hadaway Smith and stepmother, Louise Jones Smith and his dog, Henry, who was "a pretty good dog".
Survivors include his loving wife of 8 years, Betty Brass Smith; daughter, Karen D. Smith; sons, James K. Smith, Jr. (Carolyn) and Charles Jeff Smith (Cindy); daughters by marriage, Lori Humphrey (Allen) and Debra Brass; twin granddaughters, Amanda L. Berger (Shaun) and Mary E. Smith; grandsons, Joshua D. Smith and Thomas Humphrey; and brother, William "Bill" Smith. He was also survived by his beloved Heidelberg Gang.
Special thanks to Jim's caregivers from Columbus Hospice for their compassion and care.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Wynnbrook Baptist Church Building Fund or the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation at themmrf.org.
Overall, he was "Dad-burn" Awesome!
Funeral services with full military honors will be held 2:00 PM Sunday, October 11, 2015 at Wynnbrook Baptist Church 500 River Knoll Way, Columbus, GA, 31904 with Dr. Kevin Calhoun and Dr. Craig Bowers officiating. A private family interment will be held at Ft. Benning Main Post Cemetery. The family will receive friends Sunday afternoon from 1:00 to 2:00 PM in the conference center at the church according to McMullen Funeral Home 3874 Gentian Blvd., Columbus, GA, 31907.
LTC (Ret.) Smith was born July 7, 1937, in LaGrange, GA, to the late Quentin Vestin "Pete" Smith and Doris Estes Smith. He attended Mercer University, where he met his future wife, Karen "Kay" Hadaway. After graduating with an AB in Economics and the ROTC program in 1960, he entered in the Army and served 25 years. He served stateside and abroad including Alaska, Germany, and Vietnam.
LTC (Ret.) Smith was highly decorated, including his highest honor, the Bronze Star. He retired from the Army in 1985, and subsequently served as the Vice President and Regional Manager of the world wide Military Banking operation for Columbus Bank and Trust Company in Columbus, GA. He retired from CB&T in 2002.
Following his second retirement, he volunteered in the administrative and finance area of Wynnbrook Baptist Church where he was an active member since coming to Columbus in 1981. In September 2003, he was asked to accept the position of Chief Administrative Officer of the church, where he served until May 2008. He also served in various positions throughout the years and was a member of the Finance Committee and Deacons Committee.
He loved traveling with Betty, working outdoors, and believe it or not, getting up at 4:30 four days a week to head to the YMCA.
Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife of 46 years, Karen Hadaway Smith and stepmother, Louise Jones Smith and his dog, Henry, who was "a pretty good dog".
Survivors include his loving wife of 8 years, Betty Brass Smith; daughter, Karen D. Smith; sons, James K. Smith, Jr. (Carolyn) and Charles Jeff Smith (Cindy); daughters by marriage, Lori Humphrey (Allen) and Debra Brass; twin granddaughters, Amanda L. Berger (Shaun) and Mary E. Smith; grandsons, Joshua D. Smith and Thomas Humphrey; and brother, William "Bill" Smith. He was also survived by his beloved Heidelberg Gang.
Special thanks to Jim's caregivers from Columbus Hospice for their compassion and care.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Wynnbrook Baptist Church Building Fund or the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation at themmrf.org.
Overall, he was "Dad-burn" Awesome!
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