Donelson, Tennessee
We are heartbroken to announce the death of Irving Garrett Smith, known to many as Dr. Smith, I. G. Smith, or just “Smitty”. He passed away peacefully on June 26th at the age of ninety-four, with loving family at his side.
Born just before the start of the Great Depression in 1929, and growing up on a farm as one of 11 children in Joelton, Tennessee, he understood hard work and family values. He loved aviation, so he joined the United States Air Force as a teenager and served as Corporal and Fire Crash Rescueman (1946-1949). He then joined the United Sates Army and became a Second Lieutenant, United Sates Army Signal Corps (1949 – 1952), thus becoming a veteran of two branches of the military.
On the GI Bill, he went to Tennessee Tech University and met the love of his life, Dorothy Malone Smith, of Donelson, Tennessee, and began a marriage that lasted over seventy years. He achieved a Masters in Education from Middle Tennessee State University and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Missouri. Starting his professional life as a shop teacher and basketball coach in the Metropolitan Nashville/Davidson County School system, he transitioned to becoming Supervisor of Industrial Arts for Metropolitan Nashville/Davidson County Public Schools for most of the 1970’s and 80’s. He was a mentor to many teachers.
He loved to travel, square dance, and fiddle in his shop. But he was a daredevil at heart, so he retired early and spent the last 37 years of his life traveling the world with his beloved wife, Dot, and many friends, often behind the wheels of a four-wheeler, snowmobile, or a much too large RV.
In addition to his wife, Dorothy (Malone) Smith, he leaves behind his son, Gil (Bonnie) Smith, and daughter, Gail Smith Bradford, and grandchildren Dillon Smith, Dalton Smith, Tucker Malone Smith, and Danielle Darmohray.
There will be a Gathering of Family & Friends on Thursday, June 29, at Hibbett & Hailey Funeral Home from 1:00 pm until 2:30 pm. A Celebration of Life will begin in the chapel at the funeral home at 2:30 pm with Rev. Mike Potts, officiating. Gil Smith, Dillon Smith, Dalton Smith, Tucker Malone Smith, Gene Biggs, and Spenser Lee will serve as pallbearers. Following the service, Dr. Smith will be laid to rest at Woodlawn Memorial Park, 660 Thompson Lane, Nashville, TN.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the Smith family at HibbettHaileyFH.com.
