Thomas D Smith

April 2, 1934 – October 10, 2025

Thomas “Tom” Dewitt Smith, beloved husband, father, grandfather, engineer, and friend, passed away October 10, 2025. He was 91 years old.

Born April 2, 1934, in the Mississippi Delta town of Drew Mississippi, Tom grew up as the only child of Henry Thomas Smith and Alpha Sumner. Even as a young boy, he was drawn to tinkering and technology. By the age six, his curiosity about how things worked was apparent and continued for the rest of his life.

In the summer of 1951, after his junior year of high school, Tom worked as a “flunky” at a local radio and television repair shop. His job was to help assemble “isolation amplifiers” to improve antenna reception in rural Mississippi—a project that sparked a lifelong fascination with antennas, radio, and community antenna television (CATV).

After graduating from Drew High School in 1952, Tom went on to Mississippi State University, earning his degree in Electrical Engineering in 1956. He knew from the start that his passion was antenna and microwave engineering. His first job after college was with Chance-Vought in Dallas, Texas, where he worked for three and a half years. He then joined Antenna Products Company in Mineral Wells, Texas, before settling in Doraville, Georgia, in 1961 to work for Scientific Atlanta, where he spent the majority of his engineering career designing antennas and pioneering the cable television industry. Several of Tom’s antenna designs were patented. Recently while driving with family he spotted one of his designs high up on a radio tower. Giddy with boy-like excitement, they pulled over to take a photo of his creation still in use today!

In 1971 he was the cover story featured in the Cable News Magazine with the by-line, 'Tom Smith… general manager of commercial communications for fast-moving, crescive Scientific-Atlanta… a man and a company both destined to a major role in the future of the cable television industry.’ Tom’s career is featured in two books chronicling the cable television pioneers: History Between Their Ears by Archer S. Taylor and Distant Signals by Thomas P. Southwick.

Tom married Lois Ann Spruill, on October 24, 1956. Though they first met in the biology lab at Drew High school, Tom would joke that if he’d tried to hold her hand back then, she would’ve slapped him! Their courtship was full of laughter and simple joys—like going to the local airport to spot airplanes together. They welcomed two daughters: Muncie Ann, born in 1958, and Lisa Jane, born in 1961.

An avid ham radio operator with the call sign W4YJU (“W4 Young Johnny Unitas,” he liked to say), Tom’s love for radios never faded. His “radio shack” out back was filled with equipment he had built himself, and he could often be found fine-tuning a signal or chatting over the airwaves. In 1967, he even built a color television set from a kit—the first color set in the neighborhood. His daughters fondly recall the ever-present handheld radio they nicknamed “Little Brother,” because it went everywhere the family went.

After Ann’s death, Tom married her sister, Elizabeth (Liz) Spruill Skipper. Tom and Liz embraced each other’s children and grandchildren as their own and are fondly known as Pawpaw or Papa Tom and Granny to 13 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. Tom and Liz have been married for 36 years.

Tom’s passions were airplanes and radios, and in retirement he enjoyed visiting aviation museums across the country. He spent many happy hours plane spotting at local airports. He was also a skilled handyman who delighted in keeping gadgets, appliances, and electronics running long past their expected life. He had a sharp mind for problem-solving, a soft spot for computer solitaire, and a deep well of corny jokes that never ran dry.

A man of faith, Tom was a devoted member of East Thonotosassa Baptist Church at Antioch, where he served for many years as a deacon, Sunday School director, and in church administration. Every Monday morning for over a decade, he faithfully helped count the Sunday offerings. Friends remember him for his warmth and humor—always greeting newcomers or familiar faces with a handshake and, “Hello, I’m Tom Smith. Is this your first time here?” Even Pastor Jim received the same lighthearted greeting.

Tom was a loyal friend and a wonderful neighbor, always ready with a helping hand or a lighthearted quip. He was a proud Mississippi State football and Florida Gators fan, loved sending emoji-filled text messages, and never tired of watching NCIS—even if he’d seen the same episode five times.

Among the marked passages in Tom’s Bible are these verses from Numbers 6:24-26:,

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

This timeless blessing reminds us that the Lord’s care is eternal. Tom is now resting in that divine peace, surrounded by the light and love of the Savior.

Tom’s life was one of curiosity, kindness, faith, and laughter. He will be deeply missed by his wife Liz; his daughters Muncie and Lisa; his stepsons Steve (Kathy) and Stan (Anita); his grandkids, great grandkids, church friends, neighbors, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.

His was a life well-lived—a life that proved technology could connect people, but love, humor, and faith truly kept them close.