Don Smith

[14 APR 1933 - H1 - 20599 - 11 MAR 2021]

Don Smith Eulogies

AOG Testimonials



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Don Smith's and Robbie Robinson
[60th Reunion - May 2015]



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Don Smith's
[60th Reunion - May 2015]



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Bob Strickland's - Bud DeMaris - Don Smith's - Todd Graham - Robinson -
Bill Streett and Mary - Trobaugh's [60th Reunion - May 2015]



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Patty and Geotge Page - Gennie Woerner - Jilla Smith - Tracy Graham Bannantine - Todd Graham - Fred Woerner - Don Smith [Lake Murray SC - JUL 2014]



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Patty Page - Don and Jilla Smith
[DC Party - DEC 2012]



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Jilla and Don Smith
[DC Party - DEC 2011]



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Wynne Stern and Don Smith
[Fort Rucker Reunion - FEB 2006]



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[50th Reunion Bio]



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Todd Graham - Don Smith - Joe Franklin
[50th Reunion]



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Standing: Todd Graham - Don Smith - Mary and John Gamble -
Sitting: ? - Sue Graham - ? - Del and Shirley Jacobs [50th Reunion]



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Worden - T. Graham - D. Smith
[AUG 2002 Flag Presentation to 2005]



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Don Smiths - C. Johnson - Todd Graham's - Wordens
[AUG 2002 Flag Presentation to 2005]



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D. Smith - Worden - T. Graham - C. Johnson
[AUG 2002 Flag Presentation to 2005]



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D. Smith - Worden - T. Graham - C. Johnson
[AUG 2002 Flag Presentation to 2005]



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Worden - T. Graham - D. Smith
[AUG 2002 Flag Presentation to 2005]



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Wing's - John Miller - Don Smith
[c1993]



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John Wing and Don Smith
[c1993]



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Cathey's - Don Smith's - Bill Anderson's - Hilbert's -
Giddings - Edwards [USAFA - USNA Game: c1992]



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Don Smith and Date
[1988]



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Tommy and Elaine West - Don Smith
[1988]



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McNair - Don Smith and Date
[1988]



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Don Smith - Al Edwards - Bill Anderson -
Bob Newton [1986]



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[25th Reunion - 1980]

Row 10: Bergen - Cathey - Chapman - Gamble - Todd Graham - Don Smith - ? - Polly - McCloskey - Row 9: Blitch - Secord - Jim Ryan - Wing - ? - Row 8: ? - Matuszak - Wayne Smith - ? - Fleeger - Lynn - Joe Franklin - Charlie Johnson - Gunderson - Row 7: Regnier - ? - Reed - Stone - Herren - Weaver - Matteson - Hayes - ? - Enslow - Cliff Jones - ? - Reid - Feagin - Row 6: Wargowsky - Lichtenberg - Sanderson - Baker - Dienst - McCulla - Schick - Ludwig - Soper - Bean - Shideler - Lenio - Pirkey - Row 5: Goldstein - Fralen - Le Cates - Meisenheimer - Wheeler - Horst - Whittaker ? - Cardillo - Page - Newton - Prater - Lucas - Row 4: ? - Sloan - Traut - Rich Miller - Hoeferkamp - Heye - ? - West - Bill Graham - Row 3: Andrews - Perkins - Gay - Pace - Olvey - Strati - Dugan - Jackson - Whtitaker ? - Ralph Henry - Gallup - Murray - Ewing - Fikaris - Row 2: Hornbarger - Al Edwards - Robinson - ? - Thorsen - Dickson - Vitty - Tom Phillips - Bill Anderson - Giddings - Jacobs - Dryer - Row 1: Bazilwich - Samos - Wray - Trobaugh - Brokenshire - Bossert - Hagedorn - Walton - Poirier - Hasbrouck - LaFrenz - Nourse - Malooley



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H-1 Firsties - 1st Row: Brooks - Bob Strickland (CO) - Town - Crawford - Jacobs - Harris - 2nd Row: Todd Graham - Parsons - Wheeler - Rudzki - Carrington - 3rd Row: Schuh - Thornquist - Dion - Gamble - 4th Row: Pratt - Wheaton - McNiven - Longbottom - Howard (Absent: Rundle and Don Smith)



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2015 AOG Online Register
(Updated JUL 2019)

Donald E. Smith Cullum No: 20599 Class of: 1955 Born: IA Appointment: NE Branch: Inf History: 20599 Donald Eugene Smith B-IA: A-NE: Inf: Resd 59 1LT: MCI Telecom Corp 73: Pres Auto-trol Tech Corp 74: Pres Smith Assoc 81: VP & Board Member Michael Cresap Museum Genealogical Succession: MAJ James H. Winegarner USA Relationship: Grandchild Cullum No.: 63078 Class Of: 2006

Register Glossary


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Beverly 'Happy' (Saber) Smith Wallis

Beverly 'Happy' Wallis passed away September 20, 2005 at her home in Statesville, NC surrounded by her devoted husband Bill, and her children. The cause of death was breast cancer that had metastasized to the bone.

Happy was born February 25, 1933 and was the only daughter of Tim and Marie Saber. She graduated from Williamsport High School in 1950 and went on to attend Wilson College majoring in Art Education.

After graduation, she taught Art at Friends School in Baltimore until her marriage to Donald Smith in 1955. Together they had five children; Steve, Jeni, Linda, Doug and David. Happy was a stay at home Mom, dedicated to raising her children. After her divorce from Donald, she established herself in the real estate industry in Chambersburg form 1975-1980, and then in Florida from 1980-2000.

In Florida, Happy pursued her two favorite hobbies-golfing and fishing. Everyone, everywhere, was impressed and awed by her gift at both! She shot near-par golf and always came home from fishing with a stringer full of huge fish that didn't stand a chance of getting away.

Happy was reunited with Bill Wallis at her 35th high school reunion at Williamsport High School. They had been good friends and from grade school and soon discovered their true love after reuniting. They spent 19 fabulous years together working and traveling and enjoying their time with family and friends.

Happy's children say 'her love, memory and inspiration will forever be engraved in the hearts of her remaining family and friends.' She raised her kids to be strong, independent, loving individuals of good character and self confidence. She supported and encouraged her kids in all ventures. Mostly, her family and friends will miss her smile, laughter, hugs and kisses. Her husband Bill says, 'God gave me one of the greatest gifts and love that I have ever received. I called her 'Happy."

Happy was preceded in death by her beloved oldest son, Stephen, who passed away in 1995. She is survived by her husband, Bill and her children and their spouses; David and Heather Smith of Murrayville, GA, Doug and Lisa Smith of El Dorado Hills, CA, Linda Smith of Anchorage, AK, Jeni (Smith) and Jim Winegarner of Anchorage, AK, Deborah (Wallis) and Dominic Spano of Louisville, KY and Kellie (Smith) and Pete Fitzsimmons of Broomfield, CO. She is survived by eleven grandchildren; Hunter, Brette and Sierra Winegarner, Coleman and Parker Smith, Stephen and Cheyenne Smith, Madeline and Samantha Spango, Trevor (Smith) and Emily Fitzsimmons. She is also survived by her brother, Jerry Saber and his wife Pat in Chambersburg.

A memorial service will be held in Chambersburg, PA and a graveside service will be held in Williamsport, PA.

Published in The News-Press on Sept. 22, 2005


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Don Smith

Don's wife Jilla Smith just called that Don died this morning 11 March 2021 at home in Vero Beach Fl. Plans are for cremation and interment at West Point with details to be announced.

I will be the LCA.

His obit is already on file.

Todd Graham
719-551-0217
11 MAR 2021


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Donald Eugene Smith, USMA '55

Eulogy for Donald Eugene Smith, USMA '55, who passed away on March 11, 2021 at his home in Vero Beach, FL.

Don was born on April 14th, 1933 in Iowa into a well traveled military family, His father was a LTC, probably in the Ordnance Corps. Don considered Grand Island, Nebraska, to be his home from which he was appointed to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point with the Class of 470 who graduared in June of 1955. President Eisenhower gave the commencement address and individually presented the class their BS in Engineering Degrees and commissions in the Regular Army or U.S. Air Force,

He was in Company H-1 while at the academy and excelled in Football for three years as well as Track for four years. He was the captain of the Track his team his senior year. He was a Corporal his junior year and a Lieutenant his senior year. Graduating 435 out of 470 he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry. His first duty station was at Gary A.F. Base in San Marcus, TX, for Primary Flight Training with the U.S. Air Force. After that the Army Flight School Class of 56-2 went to Fort Rucker, AL, for Army Aviation Training in the Cessna L-19 "Birddog" single engine aircraft. After a short tour of duty at Fort Riley, KS, Don went to Korea and flew as a pilot with I Corps Artillery. Several years later he told me that he had suffered from radiation illness by transporting hazardous items in Korea. After transferring to the Transportation Corps he resigned from the US Army in 1959 and pursued a very successful commercial career in digital computers.

He started at IBM in their Applied Science Program which led to a long ten year career in the computer software industry designing, producing, selling, and managing computer software. He worked for Microwave Communications Inc.(MCI) and became the Chief Executive Officer. MCI Communications Corp. (originally Microwave Communications, Inc.) was a telecommunications company headquartered in Washington, D.C. that was at one point the second-largest long-distance provider in the United States. MCI was instrumental in legal and regulatory changes that led to the breakup of the monopoly of AT&T Corporation and introduced competition in the telephone industry.

Don Smith became president of Auto-trol in 1974 and served for several years. He also served later as the Chief Finance Office (CFO) of Auto-Trol. About this time he bought a twin engine Hatteras Yacht Cruiser which he kept in Mobile Bay, AL. Hr called me to come and visit because he was having trouble synchronizing the engines which were vibrating, I had been cruising the West Indies since 1977 in my 47 foot Ketch. We had a great time working on his yacht and cruising down and out of Mobile Bay into the Gulf of Mexico. The engine problem was later resolved by Hatteras Yachts.

Don and his second wife, Jilla, moved close to the Woerners and Pages on Lake Murray in the midlands of South Carolina in 2015. There they owned a small pontoon boat, popular on the lake with senior citizens . Don and I often talked at our home about personal finances and estate planning. We next visited them last year in Florida after they moved to the Vero Beach area.

Don suffered major injuries returning a tennis ball hit by his youngest son. He fell and broke his bones in his arm, leg, and pelvis, which was crushed. He became infected with Covid-19 and was hospitalized, recovered, and sent home, only to be re-admitted to the hospital. He also suffered from an enlarged prostrate. He was bedridden and covered with casts when he passed away in his home on March 11th 2021. His death was posssibly from weakened bones that failed to heal probably because of the hazardous radiation he received in Korea many years ago! His healtgh issues was compounded by the limited medical facilities in the Vero Beach area.

The 1955 West Point Year Book entry for Company H-1, written by his roommate, and closest lifelong friend, describes Don as easy going and likeable. How true! Everyone who knew Don liked him and will miss him.

p Donald Eugene Smith leaves a wife, Jilla, and three of five surviving children.

I wish I had spent more time enjoying their company and learning more of his challenges and successes in the computer software world.

Col. George W, Page, U.S. Army Ret,
USMA Class of 1955


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Don Smith West Point Services

Jilla Smith had a service for Don Smith on 10 June at 130pm at the West Point Cemetery. Jilla was assisted by a longtime friend Irene Riebe and a family pastor.

Dons children plan to have a subsequent service this fall. Details for this service will be announced when known.

The class sent a contribution in accordance with Jilla's wish.

The AOG representative Barbara St John assisted Jilla with the arrangements.

Todd Graham
719-551-0217


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