Sr. Chief Petty Officer Albert Billy Smith (U.S. Navy, Retired)

Billy was born March 24, 1939 in Gainesville, Georgia to his late parents, Sylvia C. Smith and Ida B. Saine Smith. He served his country in the United States Navy as an Aviation Electricians Mate. Sr. Chief retired from the Navy in 1987 with over 30 years of dedicated service. After military retirement, he transitioned to the position of Plant Maintenance Manager with Acoustics Sound Systems in Austin, Texas until he fully retired in 2005.

At the age of 17, Sr. Chief enlisted in the Navy and attended Boot Camp at the National Training Center, San Diego, California. Following his initial training, he was assigned to Naval Air Station Barbers Point, Hawaii as an Airborne Search and Intercept Operator. In May 1962, Sr. Chief was transferred to Naval Air Station Moffett Field, California. He spent the next 19 years assigned to five different squadrons as a ground and flight crew maintenance technician.

With the introduction of the P3 Orion at Moffett Field, Sr. Chief served in the capacity of instructor, standardization evaluator, and quality assurance for P3 flight and ground operations. His assignments at Moffett Field included 13 six-month deployments of which 7 were spent flying maritime surveillance and Seventh Fleet support in Viet Nam and the Gulf of Tonkin.

In May 1981, Sr. Chief was assigned to recruiting duty in the New Orleans Recruiting District, Monroe, Louisiana. His final duty assignment was at Naval Air Station Chase Field, Texas where he served as the Command Senior Chief until his retirement on July 01, 1987 after 31 years of active service. After all these years of service in the Navy and never having seen ship duty, this Sailor volunteered for a 2-week Twilight Cruise aboard an aircraft carrier. After this experience, Sr. Chief stated, “Being an Aviation Electrician in the U.S. Navy was one of the smartest decisions I ever made.”

His awards include Air Medal (4 strike awards), Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Unit Commendation (3 awards), Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, and various other awards and citations.

When he wasn’t serving his country, Billy participated in various activities in support of his wife and daughter. It wasn’t unusual to see him delivering Tupperware or Home Interior products from one of the many parties Juanita hosted. Billy and Juanita shared the love of bowling and card games. They spent many nights with friends on the lanes and around the table. Billy also loved coaching Joan’s softball team and helping to supervise a pack of screaming adolescent Girl Scouts.

In his younger years, Billy enjoyed playing softball and usually was the catcher. He also enjoyed playing his guitar whenever an opportunity arose. But Billy especially enjoyed playing guitar with the family on the front porch while the homemade ice cream was churning. Billy loved anything and everything Navy and his favorite animal was the Bald Eagle.

Billy’s life will forever be remembered and cherished by his loving wife of 57 years, Vera Juanita Keller Smith; daughter Joan Marie Smith and son-in-law George Joseph Smith, Jr. of McDonough, Georgia; sister Betty (William) Martin and brothers Jerry Smith and Danny (Jeannette) Smith of Gainesville, Georgia; and a host of nieces and nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Because someone we love is in Heaven, there is a little bit of Heaven in our homes. He was preceded in death by his parents, Sylvia and Ida Smith; sister and brother-in-law Shirley and Chin Wang, Sr.; brother Ricky Smith; and sister-in-law Charlene (Jerry) Smith.

The Celebration of Life for Sr. Chief Albert Billy Smith will be held on Wednesday, January 06, 2021 at 11:00AM at Horis A. Ward Funeral Home-Fairview Chapel, 376 Fairview Road, Stockbridge, Georgia 30281. The Service may be livestreamed by visiting horisawardfairviewchapel.com. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 05, 2021 from 4:00PM-7:00PM. A private viewing for Family will be held Wednesday, January 06, 2021 from 10:00AM-11:00AM. Interment will be held on January 06, 2021 at 2:30PM at the Georgia National Cemetery, Canton, Georgia. For friends and family who are unable to attend, we understand, and appreciate your thoughts, love, and prayers.

The Family respectfully requests donations be made to the United States Navy Memorial (navymemorial.org) in lieu of flowers.

Sr. Chief Albert Billy Smith was a proud veteran who loved God, family, and country.