Norman L. Smith

Smith, Norman “Norm” Lamar, 81, was born April 23rd, 1930 in Bronson, Florida (Levy County) to Horace and Norma Lu (McDonnell) Smith. His grandparents were B.O “shug” and Hattie Smith of Bronson, Florida, Arthur and Lizzie McDonnell of Williston, Florida. Norm moved to Jacksonville, Florida with his parents from St. Petersburg, Florida in 1935. There he attended Lackawanna Elementary, John Garrie Junior High and Lee High Schools. He volunteered and entered the U.S. Army as a private on August 7th 1947 at MacDill Field, Florida after graduating from basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He volunteered for Airborne training and joined the 11th Airborne Division in Hanoche, Japan. After graduating from airborne school at Camp Schimmil Finning in Sendai, Japan, he was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 11th Airborne Division in 1949 and was stationed at Camp Campbell, Kentucky. He married Theresa Elizabeth Roberts of Nashville, Tennessee in October of 1949. While on active duty with the Army he was assigned to TUSAG (The U.S. Army Group) in Izmir, Turkey as a guerilla warfare instructor warfare instructor; then the 101st Airborne Division at Camp Breckenridge, Kentucky. During the Korean Conflict, he was a “spook”, assigned to the 8240 army unit “special operations” as an intelligence specialist. Upon returning to the United States, he was assigned as an Operations NCO, a training NCO; and a Parachute Training NCO with the 82nd Airborne Division Basic Airborne School at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. His next assignment took him to the 4th Airborne Division in Goeppingen, Germany as G-3 Air and Division Operations NCO. While there, he formed and was elected president of the 4th Armored Division “Phantom” Sport Parachute Club. Although his efforts were in vain to have the Parachute Club recognize as an Olympic event, Norm did distinguish himself by winning a bronze medal for parachuting efficiency under the auspices of the International Sports Festival. His next assignment took him to IV Corps Headquarters as Classified Document NCO in Birmingham, Alabama. He was next assigned in Enterprise, Alabama as Senior NCO in charge of training and responsible for all activities of the Army Reserve. Upon his retirement from active duty as a Master Sergeant E8, and more than 1500 parachute jumps, on September 1st, 1967 he and family return to Florida and settled in Cocoa Beach. He was pre-deceased by Theresa and son, Norman, Jr. He is survived by his children; Patricia “Patti” Ann Young of Deltona, Florida; Jamie Marie Turner of Orlando, Florida; Judith Lynn Gross of Suffolk, Virginia; Bryant Oliver Smith II of Merritt Island, Florida; and Carolyn Diane Ballard of Islaham, England, as well as 7 grandchildren; Tiffany Michelle Micklos of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Jonathan and Joshua Turner of Orlando, Florida; Samantha Gross of Virginia; Bryant Oliver Smith III of Sorrento, Florida; Katelyn Sabattino of Fort Knox, Kentucky; Amanda McKenzie Ballard of Islaham, England; His sister Shirley Hall and two great grandchildren; Mia Melendez and McKenna Micklos.

While in Enterprise, Alabama, Norm was a Commander of Veterans Foreign Wars, Post 6683 and Commander of District 7-Alabama. Upon death Norm was a lifetime member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8255 and “Cootie” Pup Tent #85 in Middleburg, Florida, whereupon he was a recipient of the VFW Honor Degree for Life.

A funeral service will be celebrated at 3 pm on Wednesday January 18, 2012 at the Wylie-Baxley Funeral Home in Merritt Island Florida, 1360 N. Courtney Parkway Merritt Island, Fl 32953. Phone 321-452-6565

Arrangements under the direction of Wylie-Baxley Funeral Home, Merritt Island, FL.