Dear Lynn,
I am deeply sorry and in total shock for your loss.
Doug was one of the greatest bosses I ever had, he was a great mentor, friend and inspiring person.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult period.
May he rest in peace.

JW

Doug was the strongest man I have ever known, yet it was his gentle approach that set him apart. He had a rare gift: the ability to softly push you toward your best self without ever making you feel pressured or small.
I had the privilege of working alongside Doug at NAPEEF, and what I learned from him went far beyond leadership skills or the practical lessons of daily work. It was the way Doug moved through the world that left the deepest mark. He approached every situation and every person with quiet wisdom, asking just the right questions to make you think things through and arrive at your own best answer.
Honesty, kindness, and ethics were not things Doug talked about. They were simply who he was.
On so many occasions, when a difficult decision was at hand, I knew exactly who to call. I loved asking Doug a question and waiting through that calm, thoughtful pause before receiving the most measured, rational, and genuine response. He never rushed. He never wavered. He gave you the truth, wrapped in care.
Doug also taught by the way he lived, through his integrity, his values, and the love he held for his family. He did not just speak about what mattered. He lived it.
His memory will live on in everyone he touched, and the lessons he left behind will guide us for years to come. He was a true role model, and I am deeply grateful our paths crossed.

I met Doug in his post-career years when he continued to teach and serve in the community. He co-taught a parenting class with Lynn and he was such a caring person, willing and able to lend a sympathetic ear to new parents. He was gracious, smart, humble, and always had a twinkle in his eye. My condolences to Lynn and the family. My thanks to God for bringing Doug into a world that needed his gifts.

I am deeply saddened with the loss of a great human being, Doug.
My sister and I want to extent our condolences in this difficult time, as well our prayers, for Lynn and her family.

Doug was my boss at NAPEEF for more than 12 years, I remember that my colleague JW and I always agreed we had the privilege to work for Doug and learned a lot from his wisdom, he was a mentor, leader and friend.

Doug has been promoted to heaven, he is enjoying the eternity with our Savior Jesus.

Ligia Vallejo

My friendship with Doug spanned over 60 years, beginning when Doug and Lynn, and my wife and I, shared the college experience at Western Maryland.  That friendship lasted through intermittent contacts in our working years, to more frequent travels together and visits in our retirement.  I feel privileged to have been able to call a man of such character and warmth a friend.  Both my wife and I will miss him greatly,  and extend to Lynn and her family our love and deepest sympathy.

OBITUARY

Douglas Arnold Smarte

December 13, 1947 – April 7, 2026

Murphy Funeral Homes

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