Franklin "Ike" Smith

Born in Dothan, AL. to a sharecropper family then moving to Iron City, GA. as a child, Ike went on and joined the Army Air Corps during WWII and was stationed as Stafff Sgt in Germany. Discharged after the war, he graduated from the University of Alabama and earning a degree in Accounting. E was hired by Lee College teaching business courses and was Dean of Boys until 1955. He met his wife Alice Kiser Smith, marrying in 1951. They had one child, Karen Smith Gilbert . He started he teaching career at Mary Ann Garber, and later became Principal at Hillcrest school, retiring 1989, then he worked part time teaching reading. He was a member of East Chattanooga Church of God for many years.

Ike was preceded in death by his parents Ruben and Selina, wife Alice K Smith, three sisters, Ann Sheffield, Lola Covington, Alma Hartzog, two brothers, Howard and Jack Smith.

He is survived by his daughter, Karen Smith Gilbert and son in law Philip Gilbert Sr, three grandchildren, Philip Jr and Robert ( Rebekah) Gilbert, great granddaughter Sophia of Birmingham, and Brittany Gilbert of Gainesville, FL.,

Funeral services will be held at 12 noon Wednesday in the East Chattanooga Church of God with Dr. Mike Chapman and the Rev. Fred Smith officiating. Interment will be in the Chattanooga National Cemetery with full military honors. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. Wednesday until the time of service at the church. Arrangements are by the Valley View Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, 7414 Old Lee Highway