Arlington – Roy W. Smith Jr, 97, passed away Wednesday, July 10 in Arlington.
Funeral: Mass of Christian Burial: 11 a.m. Monday July 22 at Saint Maria Goretti Catholic Church, 1200 S. Davis Drive, Arlington.
Interment: 10:15 a.m.Tuesday July 23 at Dallas/Fort Worth National Cemetery.
Roy was born June 15, 1922 in Lula, Louisiana, son of Roy W. Smith and Amoryst Butler Smith. He grew up a product of the Depression in Louisiana and Texas where his father was a driller in the oil fields. After World War II began he joined the Navy becoming a fighter pilot and flying over 50 combat missions from the deck of the aircraft carrier USS San Jacinto earning the Distinguished Flying Cross and numerous other military awards. Roy married Helen Francis Langley, a Navy nurse, in 1947 and they enjoyed 60 years together until her death in 2008. His love of flying and the Navy led to a career in the Navy until his retirement in 1969. In retirement Roy contributed numerous hours of charitable work to Arlington Charities, Mission Arlington, Sisters of Saint Mary Namur in Ft. Worth and others. Roy will long be remembered as one of the American Patriots of the greatest generation.
Survivors: 3 children, Pat from the Woodlands, Mike from Arlington, Donna Jean from Ft. Mill S.C. 7 grandchildren to include Kevin, Jeremy, Erin, Nathan, Kelly, Dennis, Alisha, and 4 great grandchildren to include Hayden, Evan, Asher and Brady.
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