Don L Smith

Don L Smith, age 91, of Fremont, Indiana, passed away on Friday, January 3, 2020, at Henrico Doctor’s Hospital, Richmond, Virginia. Don was the son of Guy Peter and Goldie Ruth (Davis) Smith. He was born Dec. 30, 1928, in Fremont, IN. He graduated from Fremont High School in 1947 and immediately entered the United States Marine Corps. Don attended Marine Boot Camp at Parris Island, SC. He was sent to Camp Lejeune, NC, for duty as an infantryman. His next duty stations were MCRD San Diego, CA, MCRD Parris Island, SC, and MCS Quantico, VA, to the Marksmanship Training Unit. At all duty stations his primary duties involved marksmanship training and competition in arms programs. He was World Champion in 1953 at Camp Perry, OH, with rifle. He was Distinguished Marksman in 1952 during Matches at Fort Benning, GA. In 1956 & 57 his team won the Herrick and Rumbolt Team Matches. In 1956 during the Suez Crisis in the Mediterranean Don was a Plt. Leader for a Machine Gun PLT. In 1967 Don was CO HQ Co 3rd Marines, 3rd Div. In 1968 he coached the winning United States Palma Rifle Team (800, 900, & 1000 yds). In 1966-67 he served at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, and one tour in Vietnam on the DMZ with the 3rd Marine Division. He retired from Quantico, VA, Jan. 1, 1969. From time to time he served as a shooter, coach, and Officer in Charge of the Marine Corps Rifle Team. He served in every pay grade from Private to Captain. Pvt, Pfc, Cpl, Sgt, SSgt, Tech Sgt, GySgt, WO, CWO 2 (Marine Gunner), 2nd LT, 1st LT, and Mustang Capt. Don and two sons-in-law, Dennis DeMille and Tom Skeer, broke many world records. He is a member of the Marine Corps League, Distinguished Shooters Assoc., American Legion Post #257, VFW Post #297, and Sons of the American Revolution. Over the years Don donated 174 pts of blood to the Red Cross (see Red Cross Citation dated Oct. 1, 2010). Don is survived by his children David Wayne (Pamela Hohman) Smith; Lori Ann Smith (Dennis) DeMille; Lisa Kay Smith (Thomas) Skeer. Stepsons Robert (Terri Sutton) Spidel; Dennis (Janice O’Connell) Spidel; Thomas (Patricia Singletary) Spidel. 21 grandchildren and a growing number of great grandchildren. Don was preceded in death by his wife, Kay Jean Fenner, married in Fremont, IN, parents, daughter Diana Kay Smith, sister Shirley Lonsbury, brother-in-law Bill Lonsbury, granddaughters Amanda Atchison, Bailey Skeer, and Dylan Skeer. Graveside Services will be held at 11 am Saturday, August 1, 2020 at Lakeside Cemetery, Fremont, Indiana. Chaplain Mike Collins and Major Mitchell Spidel will officiate the service. We will be following the CDC social distancing and facial guidelines. A luncheon and gathering will follow the service from 12 pm until 2 pm at the Fremont American Legion Post. Memorials in memory of Don and Kay Smith may be directed to the Diana Kay Scholarship Fund in care of the Steuben County Community Foundation.