Paul Roger Smith

He was born January 21, 1942 in Erie, Pennsylvania. He attended Academy High School where he played football. After high school, he served 4 years in the US Air Force and was stationed at Lowry AFB in Denver, Colorado. While in Denver, he met Lee Ann, and they married November 1, 1963 at West Nidaros Lutheran Church in South Dakota. They started married life in West Concord, Massachusetts.

Paul worked for MIT on guidance systems after his service in the Air Force before attending college. He graduated magna cum laude from South Dakota State University with a degree in Mathematics. He worked on his Master of Computer Science degree at the University of Illinois but began working for IBM before completing the program. Paul eventually became a member of the quarter century club at IBM and worked there for 27 years. While with IBM he worked and lived with his family in Rochester, Minnesota; Toronto, Canada; Boca Raton, Florida; and Raleigh, North Carolina.

He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Lee Ann Aasen Smith; three children, Katherine Price (husband Randy), Jason Smith (wife Nichole), and Mandalyn Egerman (husband Basil); grandchildren, Karson Price, Riley Price, and Saylor Egerman; sister, Phyllis Geertson; brother, Byron Smith; and many friends around the country.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Katherine Obuszewski; and sister, Joyce Smith.

Paul was a man of great composure and pride. He had a quick wit and appreciated a dry sense of humor. He enjoyed playing golf as long as he was able and was probably disappointed that only one of his three children ever took up the sport. He led by example and instilled in his children the importance of family vacations (no matter how many hours spent in the car to get there), taking care of the yard (even if you have to do it all yourself since nobody else can do it as good as you can), fiscal responsibility (his grown children are still working on this one), having a good laugh, and taking advantage of any reason to go have some ice cream. He enjoyed going on vacations with his family. He loved the beach, watching sports, reading, and visiting relatives in Pennsylvania and South Dakota. Most of all, Paul loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them and providing them with a good life. His family will be forever grateful that he was the head of their family.

The family will receive friends from 4-7 pm on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at the Smith Residence. A celebration of Paul’s life is being planned for June 2021. Details will be announced as soon as possible.