Truett C. Smith

On February 26, 2022, Truett C. Smith died of natural causes while under hospice care at Cape Canaveral Hospital at the age of 99. Truett Smith was born July 27, 1922 in Laurel Hill, Florida to Reverend Archie and Naomi (Steele) Smith and had a brother, Edwin Smith, and a sister Mabeline Smith Urbanus. Archie was a Baptist minister as well as a tenant farmer and his influence could be clearly seen in his son Truett. His love of gardening, wildlife and cooking were with him throughout his life.

Truett served in the US Marine Corp in WWII and participated in the battle at Guadalcanal. After leaving the Marine Corp, Truett entered college in Washington DC and graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering. He met and married the love of his life, Marcella Starr before moving to Merritt Island,Fl in 1963 where Truett began working for NASA building the Kennedy Space Center. He retired from NASA and worked for KSC Tours helping to build many aspects of the KSC tour facility including the IMAX theatre, one of first in the US.

Truett proudly and lovingly took care of Marcella for years before her death from Alzheimer’s in February of 2001. Truett and Marcella had 4 children, Ronald Smith who preceded him in death, Kenneth Smith, Gregory Smith, and Beverly (Smith) Fowler. He had 12 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren at the time of his death.

Truett’s love for knowledge, gardening, and his family left an amazing legacy for not only his family but for all who knew him. He was an amazing example of truth, respect, and faithfulness for his entire life and will be greatly missed. We rest in the knowledge that he joins his wife and son in heaven along with other beloved family members.

Truett completed a videotaped interview for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Program in late 2021 at the age of 99.

A graveside service will take place on Thursday, March 3 at Florida Memorial Gardens, 5950 S. US Highway 1, Rockledge, FL 32955 at 2:00pm.