Franklin Billings Smith

Franklin Smith passed away Friday, September 27, 2024, following complications from a brief illness.

Dad was born January 27, 1946, in Abington, IL, to Franklin Heiner Smith, DDS, and Margaret Ruth Billings Smith. Most of his formative youth, however, was spent in Salt Lake City, UT, alongside extended family. He was part of a long lineage of Heiners dating back to the pioneer era. Dad graduated from Highland High School before moving on to the University of Utah as part of the Navy ROTC Program. Upon graduation, dad proudly commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. His service took him to pilot flight training where he earned his wings and trained to fly CH-46 helicopters. After a tour in Vietnam, dad retuned to Pensacola, FL, where he served as a pilot instructor and serendipitously met the future love of his life, Cheryl Lofton, on a blind date. Not long after meeting, mom moved to CA for the summer. Knowing that she was the one, dad somehow made off with a military training airplane from the flight line of Pensacola and flew a solo mission across the country to seal the deal on the next, and most important, chapter of his life.

Dad later switched to fix winged airplanes (C-130) and was stationed in El Toro, CA, where the next generation of Smith’s would start. Around that time, dad transitioned to the USMC Reserves and started a parallel career as a commercial airline pilot with Flying Tigers, which later became a part of Federal Express. Dad was co-pilot, and later Captain, on multiple types of FedEx aircraft, and proudly flew right up until the federally mandated age for retirement. He wasn’t ready to stop flying but enjoyed the extra time to pursue his other love, golf, most every day of the week while he had the health to do so.

Dad was preceded in death by his daughter Morgan (1979) and his wife Cheryl (2018). While dad never seemed to fully recover after mom died, he found passion and purpose by spending time with his sons Travis and Tyler, daughter-in-law Piper, and most of all his grandchildren Josie and Rowan.

Aside from pride in his family, dad had immense pride for his hard-earned Eagle, Globe and Anchor, and his Wings of Gold. In lieu of flowers, please find a service member or veteran and simply say thank you. We hope you found your way to Morgan and Mom, Dad. We love you.