Kirsey O. Smith Jr.

Kirsey Oliver Smith, Jr., age 85 passed away with his family by his side March 19, 2014 in Sanibel, Florida. He was born in Kenova, W. Virginia November 26, 1928 to the late Julia Eleanor nee Shaffer and the late Kirsey Oliver Smith, Sr. Kirsey graduated from South High School and Ohio State University in Columbus. Ohio He joined the Army and was discharged in 1954. He began his professional career as an aeronautical engineer with North American Aviation in Columbus where he met his wife Winnie nee Hatcher and began their marriage of 58 years. Kirsey was a highly respected aerospace engineer throughout a 34 year career at Rockwell International Aviation that spanned from 1954 to 1988.  He distinguished himself on numerous aircraft and missile programs for the Army, Navy, Air Force and NASA.  At Rockwell, he worked both in a supervisory capacity and as a lead engineer of the technical staff.  KO was well respected by his government counterparts in the military services.  His areas of expertise were many and included aerodynamics, propulsion, configuration design, mission performance analysis, and missle-aircraft integration.  Even after retirement he kept abreast of the aerospace industry through trade journals and technical publications.  It can be said that KO was a true-to-life “rocket scientist” and will be missed by his aerospace colleagues.  Kirsey was a member of Crievewood Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee and also First Baptist Church of Fort Myers, Florida. He is survived by wife Winnie; daughters, Julia with husband Glen Farris, Audrey Bezner, and his son Wayne with wife Catherine, 6 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Celebration of Life Service will be at Woodlawn Roesch Patton Funeral Home, 660 Thompson Lane, Nashville, Tennessee on Monday, March 24th at eleven thirty with  Rev. Doug Duty officiating, visitation with family and friends one hour prior to service.  A graveside service will be performed at the McEwen Cemetery in McEwen, Tennessee at 2:00 P.M. Honorary pallbearers are Eric Bezner, Fred Hessman, Barry Ingle, Zach Ingle, Wendell Melvin, Doug Meek, and Wayne Smith.