Earl Smith

Earl Smith entered into heaven on this day November 22, 2019 at the age of 93. He is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 67 years Patricia M. Smith. They met at an USO dance held at Sealand RAF Base, England. They danced into each other’s hearts and were married on April 2, 1952 at Saint Mary’s Church, Handbridge near Chester, England.

Earl was born in Wewoka, Oklahoma to a family of 16 brothers and sisters. In his early life he grew and harvested cotton, corn, oats, and grain sorghum. He maintained and operated farm machinery and raised livestock to market. At 18 he joined the Army Troop A 28th Calvary Reconnaissance Squadron (mechanized) working with horses and tanks in Germany till discharge 1946. Earl reenlisted in the Air Force in 1948.

During his military service Earl worked his way up from records and requisition clerk to supply inventory management supervisor with the rank of MSGT. He was stationed in Oklahoma, Kansas, California, Germany, Montana, Hawaii, Tennessee, England, Italy, France, Florida, Texas, Guam, Kwajalein Island, and Thailand. Earl served in the Air force for 27 years till he retired in 1972. He with his family settled in San Antonio, Texas in 1973. After the military he worked at Data Point and Security Hill Lackland AFB until he retired for a second time in 1988. His hobbies were fishing and golf. Earl was a devoted Christian and was a current member of Cornerstone Church since 1977.

Earl loved his family unconditionally without measure. We are all so grateful to have had such a loving father, grandfather, and uncle. We are blessed to have had him in our lives for the many years he was with us. If you asked him how he was doing, he would say A1. He was A1 in all our lives.

He will leave many to cherish his memory. He is survived by his wife Patricia M. Smith; their three children and spouses, Patricia” Karen” and husband the late Robert Duffy of Marshfield, Massachusetts, Wayne and wife Debra Smith of Saint Louis, Missouri and Susan and husband Cass Staffel of San Antonio, Texas; grandchildren Patricia “Tricia” Duffy, Matthew Duffy, Chris Staffel, Elise and husband Brandon Wyatt, Bryan and wife Vicky Staffel ; great grandchildren, Ian Duffy, Eleanor Staffel, Harrison Staffel, Remington Wyatt. Children of Wayne and Debra Smith, Kelly, Marci, and Mitch Penning.

A funeral service celebrating his life will be held at Cornerstone Church,18755 Stone Oak Pkwy, San Antonio, Texas on Monday, December 2, 2019 at 11AM. A private interment will follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.