Floyd "Buddy" H. Smith Jr.

Floyd H. "Buddy" Smith, Jr. was born on June 19, 1928, to Floyd H. "Chief" Smith, Sr. and Martha Lee Smith at their home on Green Pond Road in Soddy, Tennessee. He graduated from Red Bank High School in 1946 and attended Tennessee Polytechnic Institute (now Tennessee Technological University), where he played football and studied electrical engineering, in that order.

During an internship with Southern Electrical Corporation, Floyd was encouraged to join the military to do his part for the country. He enlisted in the United States Air Force on September 12, 1950. After completing basic training in Yuma, Arizona—and famously nearly being court-martialed over a watermelon incident—he served at Wheelus Air Base in Tripoli, Libya, where he was a member of the honor guard for Sayyida Fatimah as-Senussi.

Floyd worked for Provident Life and Accident Insurance Company as Chief Investigator for 31 years. It was there that he met the love of his life, Katy Goodson. They were married on May 14, 1960. His position allowed him to travel throughout the country and visit all fifty states, creating much-needed space in their togetherness. After retirement, he worked for several companies as a consulting investigator and also launched a campaign to read the complete works of Shakespeare.

Floyd was a dedicated Mason throughout his life. He was a 60-year member of Soddy Masonic Lodge No. 418, where he served as Worshipful Master four times; a 56-year member of Sale Creek Lodge No. 280; and a member of the Eastern Star Mayflower Chapter. He also served as president of the East Tennessee Past Masters Association. In addition, he belonged to the Scottish Rite, Alhambra Shrine, High Twelve Club, and the Hamilton County Square and Compass Club. As a faithful member of the Shriners Hospital Bus Unit, Floyd volunteered countless hours transporting patients from the Chattanooga area to Shriners Hospitals in Louisville, Kentucky, and Cincinnati, Ohio.

A fifth-generation farmer, Floyd worked the land and raised cattle on his beloved Possum Hill until just a few years ago. He could grow almost anything under even the harshest conditions and generously shared the fruits of his labor with family, friends, and neighbors. He loved barbecuing for others and built a large smokehouse where he and his friends enjoyed fellowship while smoking pork, turkey, beef, goat, and more. Floyd also loved fishing, especially his annual trips to the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, for the salmon and halibut runs. Floyd never met a stranger, and his charisma was truly a thing to behold.

Floyd joins many beloved family members and friends in the great hereafter, including his parents; his sisters, Christine Townsend and Darthula "Dot" Thompson; his wife, Katy; his nephew, Claude Arnold Townsend; his fishing buddy, Charles Cronan; and his beloved dog, Oreo.

He is lovingly remembered by family members and friends, especially his daughters, Rosalee Smith (Rick Wilkinson), Jenny Smith, and Sara Jackson (Bob); and by his cherished grandchildren, Kathryn and Olin Jackson. The family extends their gratitude to Hearth Hospice and the wonderful caregivers of Touching Hearts at Home.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m., Friday, July 10, 2026, in the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home. Entombment will follow in Hamilton Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., Friday, July 10, 2026, at the funeral home.

Gary Lamar Luttrell will officiate the funeral service. Pallbearers will be Bryson Dalton, Duane Dalton, Dennis Crowder, Joe Gooden, Sam Gooden, Bob Jackson, Stephen Langford, Lamar Lynch, and Rick Wilkinson. Honorary pallbearers will be members of Soddy Lodge No. 418 and fellow Masons. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be sent to Soddy Lodge, PO Box 274, Soddy Daisy, TN 37384.

Please share your thoughts and memories online at www.ChattanoogaNorthChapel.com

Arrangements by Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, North Chapel, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, TN 37343.