Alfred Smith

When someone is identified as a natural leader, certain images come to mind. First thoughts are of a no-nonsense, tough-minded, dedicated and disciplined person. This description accurately fits Alfred Smith who was indeed a born manager. He will be remembered as being highly organized, practical and realistic. He was a person who always carried a strong sense of duty with him throughout his life. Possessed with traditional “old school” morals, Alfred was an individual who clearly communicated to those around him just who he was and what he was all about. Everyone acquainted with Alfred knew him as a well-respected man who was a stable force in his community.

Alfred was born on February 13, 1935 in Youngstown, Ohio. His parents were Baxter and Juanita Smith. Even as a youngster, Alfred learned to be objective and decisive. His faith in the principles of authority and dependability was something that he carried with him throughout his life.

As a young boy, Alfred was able to put his natural abilities to work. He was a bit like the sergeant of the family, helping to make sure that the others did what they should do and that they avoided those things they were not’t supposed to. In other words, he liked to organize and direct. Alfred was raised with eight siblings. He had older brothers: Harvey, Baxter Jr., James, and Tommie; one younger brother, Robert; and sisters: Lucille, Juanita, and Johnnie Mae. Alfred had an inborn appreciation for the order in the family, allowing for the oldest members to be the most respected and to take on the most responsibility. For Alfred, this was a natural order of life, one he gladly embraced.

Alfred's matter-of-fact attitude about most things was developed during his childhood. As a young boy, Alfred enjoyed being part of teams, and organizations and groups of other kids who shared similar interests. Alfred took part in baseball and was a member of the Boy Scouts.

In school, Alfred was as close to being a model student as one could possibly imagine. He sought to achieve perfect attendance in all of his classes. He would eagerly complete his homework, and often put in extra study time when he felt it was necessary. A logical and focused thinker, Alfred was always good at following directions and meeting his schedules, whether they were set by his teachers or were self-imposed. Alfred’s personal motto could well have been, “Do it right the first time.” He graduated in Youngstown, Ohio in 1957. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. The teacher he enjoyed learning from the most was Miss Stow.

Alfred’s practical work ethic carried over into his military years. His logical mind permitted him to work hard without succumbing to the usual distractions of life. He would tackle an assignment and work through it before moving onto the next project. Alfred’s orderly nature gave way to establishing personal habits and procedures that not only helped him stay on track but often put him ahead of schedule. When Alfred saw the need or benefit, he would willingly take on the extra assignment or even requested additional training in order to learn more and become a better airman. He earned certificates of training, totaling 1,550 hours in Corrosion Control Supervision. His favorite course was chemistry. Alfred was the Chief Advisor on Corrosion Prevention and Control in the U. S. Air Force in Europe. He was also a Civil Engineer in Field Training (plant management).

Alfred was an Air Force veteran. His sense of duty helped lead him into the military where his understanding of rank, his willingness to abide by rules and regulations and his desire to follow orders was admired by his fellow service men and women. He was stationed in Korea; Japan; England; Germany; Barksdale AFB in Louisiana; Shephard AFB in Texas; and McConnell AFB in Kansas. Alfred saw action for two years during the Korean Conflict. Through his hard work and dedication, he achieved the rank of Master Sergeant. He received several awards recognizing his distinguished service, including a United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Korean Service Medal.

Alfred was sociable and approachable. Because he was always so straightforward in how he approached relationships, friends and family knew that what they saw was always what they got. He enjoyed the camaraderie of being with a group of friends. When Alfred was a member of a group, his interaction worked to keep the others grounded. He wasn’t afraid to confront his friends and, when necessary, he challenged them to stick to the task at hand. Those close to Alfred came to expect his high standards of performance. While growing up, some of his best friends were Deats Robinson, Jessie Jones, Ben Woods, and Harold Clinkstale. Later in life, he remained friends with Deats Robinson.

An objective and conscientious individual, Alfred reveled in the security of his family. On June 20, 1955 Alfred exchanged wedding vows with Maude Ethel Jackson at the Shiloh Baptist Church of Shreveport, Louisiana. One of Alfred’s most endearing qualities was his uncanny ability to remember important dates and anniversaries, and his unending enthusiasm for organizing a celebration for his family and friends.

Alfred was ever watchful of his children. He worried about them and was deeply concerned for their development as they grew up. He maintained a firm hand in their upbringing. Alfred would give his stamp of approval to their requests, as long as he could see how they might benefit. He also had the ability to enforce the rules as needed to ensure that his children were properly raised. Alfred was blessed with four children: Terresa, Valerie, Wayne, and Jonathan. They were also blessed with eight grandchildren: Christian, Tasha, Anthony, Chantal, Jonathan, Erin, Lauren, and Michael. As well as nine great-grandchildren: Devin, Craig Jr., Emani, Quiara, Nakaya, Destiny, Dominic, Asia, and xxxxxxxx.

Being a hard worker who praised efficiency, Alfred was always striving to make improvements where they were necessary. He was able to analyze situations and problems, keeping everything and everyone on track. An excellent project supervisor, Alfred was a person who could quickly make decisions based on the information available. He worked cooperatively and expected the same from his colleagues. In both his personal and professional environments, Alfred upheld his standards. His primary occupation was the military. He was enlisted for over 20 years in the Air Force and employed for 10 years with Ark-La-Gas Company. Alfred was a team player who certainly lived out the motto of “give me a job, and I will get it done.”

Alfred approached his leisure time in the same manner that he approached his life. A person who enjoyed being neat and orderly and one who understood the nature of things, he appreciated the hours he was able to devote to his various hobbies. His favorite pursuit was horse racing. Alfred was content to enjoy his favorite pastimes alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Playing by the rules was a natural thing for Alfred to do in life and that carried over to his enjoyment of sports. Recreational sports included bowling. He also was something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were football, baseball, pool, and darts.

A civic-minded person, Alfred was usually ready to jump in and help with community activities. He was the type of person who could masterfully organize events and projects and then see to it that they were run in an efficient and timely manner. Politically, Alfred was a strong supporter of the Democratic Party. During these years, Alfred applied his analytical intellect to problem solving and so was an asset on most committees.

Spirituality was important to Alfred. He held high moral standards and was worried about the moral decay he saw around him. For that reason he held deep spiritual beliefs that he was willing to share. He attended the Air Force base chapel.

When it came time to travel or take a vacation, Alfred used his scheduling expertise to make sure everyone and everything was ready to go. That also meant that he made certain no single person was overworked in putting the trip together. Alfred had a knack for making sure that everyone who was involved had their specific tasks and that those tasks were completed. Favorite vacations included Austria, Paris, Las Vegas, and Cleveland.

When Alfred’s retirement finally arrived in 1972 from the Air Force and again in 1984 from Ark-La-Gas Company, he was well prepared. He used his critical evaluation skills to make sure that every detail had been preplanned and attended to. His new life involved relocating to Shreveport, Louisiana; Huntington Beach, California and eventually Las Vegas, Nevada . In retirement, he found new pleasure in playing pinochle and enjoying grandchildren. In many ways, Alfred loved retirement. It provided him with the opportunity to catch up with his friends, attend functions and group outings, and tackle new interesting activities.

Alfred passed away on November 12, 2010 at Mike Ocallahan Veterans Hospital after suffering complications from Diabetes and pneumonia. He is survived by his wife, Maude; children: Terresa, Valerie, Wayne, Jonathan; his sister, Johnnie Mae; his brothers, James and Robert; and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Services were held at Palm Mortuary, Eastern Chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Alfred was laid to rest in Southern Nevada Veterans Cemetery in Boulder City, Nevada.

All who knew him would agree that Alfred was a pillar of the community. He lived his life with his feet firmly on the ground. He had a strong work ethic, was pragmatic in his thoughts and acts, and constantly sought the means for self-improvement. He was willing to share his ideas and knowledge for the benefit of others, so that they could accomplish more in their lives. Alfred Smith did his best to ensure that his family, friends, loved ones, co-workers, and everyone whose life he touched was given the chance to become a better person.

Arrangements under the direction of Palm Eastern Funeral Home, Las Vegas, NV.