Claude R. Smith

A devoted husband and father, a volunteer, and a retired engineer from the local Exxon Refinery, Claude R. Smith passed away Tuesday, March 17, 2015 at the age of 91. He was born in Waynesville, NC and grew up in Rock Hill and Lancaster, SC. He has been a resident of Baton Rouge for 54 years. He graduated from Clemson College in 1947 and was an Army Air Force World War II veteran, flying 24 combat missions as a B-24 navigator with the 5th Air Force in the Southwest Pacific. He was awarded the Air Medal. He was a member of Alpha Phi Omega, Alpha Chi Sigma, Istrouma Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Order of the Arrow, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Clemson Alumni Association, LSU Alumni Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, Capital Area Literacy Coalition, Louisiana Council for Literacy, Louisiana Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, Louisiana Historical Society and other local historical and cultural organizations. He was awarded the St. George Medal, the Catholic Church’s adult award for Scout leadership. Also, he was honored as a Golden Rule nominee and in 1995 he was recognized by Catholic Community Services as the Volunteer of the Year. He was an active volunteer all his life: in his Church, and especially as a Scoutmaster and as a volunteer in the Catholic Community Services ESL program. He and his wife, Freda Joyce Guerin, who predeceased him by 36 years, leave a legacy of four sons and one daughter, their spouses, and eight grandchildren: Ron and Karen Cole Smith of Addison, TX; Steve Smith of Arlington Heights, IL; Lee and Alex Favre Smith of New Roads, LA and their son Pierson; Greg and Becky Cheatham Smith of Austin, TX and their children, Audrey, Erin, and Peyton; Susan and Keith Mayeaux of Prairieville, LA and their children Maria, Madison, McKenzie, and Daniel. Claude is survived by his half-brother George Lee Smith of Fort Smith, AR. Also, he will be remembered by his longtime friend, Melva Staub. As an avid genealogist, Claude would have wanted it known that his maternal grandparents were John Andrew Hayes and Frances Elizabeth Steele and his paternal grandparents were George Lee Smith and Mary Ellen Alexander. His parents were Claude Rube Smith and Gillie Mae (later changed to Mary Gill) Hayes. Claude’s wife, Freda Joyce Guerin, was the daughter of Frank Joseph Guerin and Ethel Mary Pourciau. The family would like to thank the staff of St. Joseph Hospice - The Carpenter House for their compassionate and attentive care of their father. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the Boy Scouts of America or St. Joseph Hospice (www.stjosephhospicefoundation.org). A Memorial Service will be held at Greenoaks Funeral Home on Friday March 20th. Visitation will be between 5:00 PM and 9:00 PM with a Memorial Service from 7:00 PM to 7:30 PM. Greenoaks Funeral Home is located at 9595 Florida Blvd in Baton Rouge, LA.