Phillis A. Smith

Phillis was born and spent her childhood in the Youngstown, Ohio, area. She was a graduate of Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University where she was a member of the Phi Mu sorority and met several lifelong close friends that supported her throughout her life. Her sense of adventure led her to a nursing position in Texas where she met the love of her life and future husband, Dr. John “Jack” Smith, a fellow Youngstown native.

She married Jack on June 3, 1961, at St. Andrew’s Episcopal in Youngstown. They spent over 54 happy years together until his death in 2016. She accompanied him during his career as a US Naval Officer and physician to assignments in Hawaii, Florida and the Washington, DC area, while raising their children. In the late 1960s, Phillis was an active member of the Subase Officers Wives League bowling team where she earned many trophies due to the skills she acquired bowling in her father’s bowling alley as a child. She was a Girl Scout Leader and co-led the Junior Army Naval Guild Organization at the National Naval Medical Center Bethesda. Throughout her life she was an active bridge player. In her later years she enjoyed traveling in the US and abroad with her closest friends. Until the end, her cousin Sandy held a special place in her heart and was like a little sister to her.

Phillis was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her children, Leslie of Maryland, Sharon (James) of New York and Phillip (Shannon) of Ohio. She is also survived by several much-loved grandchildren.

A service will take place at 3:00 pm on August 14, 2025, at DeVol Funeral Home 10 E Deer Park Dr, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Internment will follow later where she will be laid to rest with her husband at Arlington National Cemetery. To honor Phillis’ love of animals, the family has suggested Memorial Contributions be made, if desired, to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals https://www.aspca.org/ways-to-give (please scroll down to memorial gifts)