Juanita Carlin Smith

Juanita was born in Allentown, PA on January 24, 1933 and graduated from Allentown High School. After finishing high school, she worked as a Bell Telephone operator. On November 15, 1952, she married the late Daniel F. Smith of Allentown. Daniel F. Smith enlisted in the United States Air Force and they were assigned to Goodfellow, AFB in San Angelo, Texas, where she was instantly hired by the telephone company due to her international phone operator experience gained in Allentown. After San Angelo, the next assignment at McGuire AFB in New Jersey brought the addition of a son, David Michael Smith.

Over 25 years as a military wife and mother, Juanita (known to friends as Bonnie) supported her Air Force husband and cared for their son as they moved every two years and lived in New Jersey, South Carolina, and the Philippines. Like many military wives, she kept the family together and was the rock when Daniel served in Viet Nam and had other tours of duty in isolated assignments. Bonnie enthusiastically supported her husband's athletic endeavors and later her son David's and sat on many hard gym bleachers, baseball stands, and bowling alleys for over 20 years. Upon Daniel's retirement at Myrtle Beach AFB from the Air Force in 1974, they moved to West Columbia, SC, and lived a full life for nearly 50 years and were married for 72 years. While living in West Columbia, Bonnie enjoyed working at Belks in downtown Columbia.

She is survived by her son, David M. Smith of Simpsonville, SC and her two grandsons, Michael D. Smith and Mark D. Smith, who both reside in Austin, Texas and also her nephew, Wayne Sechler, of New Tripoli, Pennsylvania. She is predeceased by her husband Daniel F. Smith, her parents James Edward Sechler and Virginia Hicks Sechler of Allentown, PA, and her brother Clark Eugene Sechler.

A graveside service will be held at 1:00 pm Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at Fort Jackson National Cemetery.