Louis W. Dr. Smith

Dr. Louis W. Smith, 86, died December 1, 2011 surrounded by family, in Tallahassee, Florida. He will be laid to rest with his late wife, Lee Smith, on December 9, 2011 at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, Texas. He is survived by his two sons, Dale Smith of Tallahassee, Florida and Greg Smith of Amherst, Massachusetts, their wives, Karen F. Smith and Christina W. Smith, his grandchildren, Andrew Louis Smith of Sarasota, Florida and Katie Marie Smith of Tallahassee, Luc Weston Smith and Davis Han Weston Smith both of Amherst, Massachusetts and his brother, Rogers Smith, of Wylie, Texas. He was beloved by his many nieces and nephews, Margaret Lakie, James and Stuart Lumpkin, Paul, Patricia, Dan and David Bellow, Cherrie Ziese, Thomas and Dennis Bellow and by their spouses and children. Louis had a long and distinguished career serving his country, first in the Army Air Corp, Europe where he guided his crew as a navigator during WWII. Returning to Beaumont to marry Lee, he was recalled to duty in the United States Air Force to serve during the Korean War. He later would pilot refueling aircraft in Japan and El Paso, Texas. From 1964 through 1967, he and his family were stationed in Wiesbaden Germany, where Louis, as a member of the "Berlin for Lunch Bunch," piloted what were then top secret aerial reconnaissance missions over the German Democratic Republic. Reaching the rank of Lt. Colonel, Louis was retired from the Air Force in June 1970, after serving in his final assignment, Base Commander at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Education was a significant component of Louis' life. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Texas Western University in El Paso, Texas, and masters and doctorate degrees in Education from the University of Southern California. His post Air Force career was in education. He first directed USC's graduate programs in education for Department of Defense personnel in Germany, Belgium, Spain and Iran. Living again in Wiesbaden, Germany, Louis successfully grew USC's programs from 1970-1978. He again answered a call to serve the Air Force, this time as a civilian, returning to direct the Education and Training component of Air Force Systems Command, at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. He later relocated to Brooks Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas, where he established a systems acquisition school. The better part of the 1990's was spent in retirement, with Louis now serving as Lee's assistant in her craft business. They travelled frequently to visit friends and family. Two years after Lee's death in 1999, Louis left San Antonio to be closer to his grandchildren, splitting his time between Tallahassee and Amherst. Eventually living full time in Amherst, he was an active volunteer in the Amherst school system, tutoring, reading, serving on committees and always, on Veterans Day, sharing his military experiences with students. For his contributions to Amherst schools, he was honored with a "Golden Apple" award. He was also an active member of the Wesley United Methodist Church, serving on numerous committees including a veteran's outreach program.

MEMORIAL SERVICE

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2011

12:30 P.M.

PORTER LORING NORTH CHAPEL

Interment with Military Honors will follow in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Donations may be made to the Neurodegenerative Disorders Research Fund (2743130) of the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.