Lowell Wendell Smith DDS

Dr. Lowell W. Smith, DDS, Capt (Ret), US Public Health Service, age 94, went to be with his Lord and Savior on July 6, 2026.

Lowell was born in Canyon, Texas, and was the son of the late Oscar Smith and Minnie Hubbard Smith. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of almost 70 years, Gloria Jean Franklin Smith, his oldest son, Randy Smith, two brothers and three sisters.

Lowell enlisted in the US Naval Reserve during the Korean War and then became a Commissioned Officer in the US Public Health Service, where he served as a career officer for 30 years in clinical, epidemiology research, and administrative roles. His degrees included West Texas State College (BS), the University of Texas Dental School (DDS) in Houston, the Medical College of Virginia (pathology), the Harvard University School of Public Health (MPH), and George Washington University (M.Ed.). His most noteworthy research included the largest study of oral cancer ever conducted. He authored/co-authored 14 scientific articles and served on the Surgeon General’s Committee on Smoking and Health in 1969. After retiring, Lowell taught in the Dental Hygiene Department of Amarillo College for 12 years.

After retirement, Lowell and his beloved wife Gloria lived and traveled full time in their RV for seven years. They visited every state except Hawaii and every Canadian province except two. In one long trip they traveled from the tip of Texas to the Arctic Circle. Their favorite place to visit during that time was Nova Scotia, Canada, where they grew to love bagpipe music.

Lowell had many interests and hobbies throughout his life. If anything was worthy of his attention, he always gave 110 percent. He took pleasure in having the prettiest green lawn in the neighborhood. He propagated dozens of gardenia saplings, which he enjoyed gifting to friends and family.

Lowell obtained his ham radio license and loved visiting with his radio friends every morning. An avid game player his whole life, he grew up playing dominoes in Texas, played chess with his co-workers, and in retirement enjoyed a fiercely competitive game of Joker with the grandchildren. He studied the stock market with the same devotion, reading Investor’s Business Daily nearly every day for forty years.

As a true Texan, Lowell owned many guns and enjoyed target practice at the shooting range. Family lore has it that he opened a window in the house to shoot a pesky squirrel, which excited the grandchildren greatly.

Lowell’s bird feeder provided many hours of observing and identifying bird species. One feeder in particular would spin when a squirrel grabbed the lower bar, delighting Lowell as the squirrel gained speed until it flew off.

Starting in his early forties, Lowell committed himself to a daily exercise regimen. Over the years this included running, speed walking, karate, rowing, elliptical, cross-country skiing machine, and of course the famous kettlebells (which he continued into his 90s). Once, while speed walking through the park, he tripped on the uneven sidewalk, causing him to begin falling. He tucked and rolled and landed upright on his feet, continuing to speed walk as if nothing out of the ordinary happened.

Lowell spent time every day reading newspapers, novels, history, and watching British series like Doc Martin and All Creatures Great and Small.

One of Lowell’s greatest joys was storytelling. He couldn’t resist sharing a story about history, a life experience, or a travel adventure. This included living through the Dust Bowl in the Texas Panhandle, his childhood adventures on the farm, losing his brother Leon, a meteorologist who was killed when his plane went down on a weather-reconnaissance mission over the Pacific, his many trips to India doing cancer research, and stories about traveling all over the United States.

Survivors include his children: Patti Floyd (Peter) of Highland, MD, Rick Smith of Smithsburg, MD, Cheryl Watson (Neil) of Central, SC and Carol Wright (Rick) of Easley, SC. Lowell leaves behind 11 loving grandchildren and 18 precious great-grandchildren.

Lowell was a longtime member of Easley First United Methodist Church, which he attended regularly. His deep faith was evident in his heartfelt and tender prayers that often were spoken through tears.

A funeral service will be held Friday, August 21, 2026, at 11:00 AM at Easley First United Methodist Church, 115 W. 1st Ave., Easley, SC 29640.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Easley First United Methodist Church.