Don Smith

Donald Wayne Smith, 79, formerly of Spring City and Soddy-Daisy and recently a resident of the Sequatchie Valley, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013. Don attended Ebenezer Baptist Church. He served his country in the U.S. Army, retiring after 27 years of service and was a veteran of the Korean War and Vietnam War. During his military career he was assigned to the Presidential Honor Guard serving on both President John F. Kennedy's and General McArthur's funerals. Don presented the Torch Light service at the Washington Monument, Tomb of Unknown Soldier and Arlington National as well while serving on the Presidential Honor Guard. After his military career, Don was a fugitive detective with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department and the Soddy-Daisy Police Department. Continuing to serve, Don drove veterans for the DAV to the veteran's hospitals in Murfreesboro and Nashville and was a certified clown. He loved to play blue grass music. Don enjoyed spending time with his family that he loved dearly. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ollie Wheeler Smith and Bartley Henderson Smith; brothers, Claude, James and Glen Smith and sisters, Lucille Atkins and Emma Kate Calbough. Survivors include his wife, Rosa Brown Smith; son, Richard (Judy) Smith, of Maynardville, Tenn.; step-sons, Russell (Pam) Brown, of Soddy-Daisy and Steven Brown, of Dunlap; step-daughters, Donna (Beaver) Durham, of Chattanooga and Sharon (William) Wofford, of Signal Mountain; 9 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Services will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 11, at Noon in the funeral home chapel with the Director G.A. Bennett, Sheriff Jim Hammond and the Rev. Eugene Kilgore officiating. A family graveside service will be held at the Spring City Cemetery with his niece, Brenda Dodson presenting a eulogy. Visitation is Wednesday from 10 a.m. to Noon at the funeral home. The family would like to extend a special thank you to his caregiver, Shirley Skiles, for all her loving care. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to a veteran's association of your choice. Condolences and memories can be shared at www.williamsonandsons.com. Arrangements are by Williamson and Sons Funeral Home, 8852 Dayton Pike, Soddy-Daisy, TN 37379.