Harold G. Smith

Harold Smith was born in Shelby, Montana, on July 24, 1932, to Kathryn Leach Smith, a schoolteacher, and Harold Malcolm Smith, an immigration and customs agent on the U.S.-Canada border. He grew up in the nearby small town of Sunburst, where he was known as “Bob” and, improbably, “Hinky.” He graduated high school as one of five valedictorians and then headed across the country by train to attend St. Louis University. He was so taken aback by the bustle of Union Station upon his arrival that he claimed he would have immediately bought a ticket home if he’d been able to afford one.

In St. Louis, he met Sarah Bailey, who became his wife in 1953 and who remained his life partner for 69 years until her death in the fall of 2022. They were devoted to each other, to their family and friends, and to the communities that they joined. After Harold earned a BA in physical therapy in 1954, he joined the Army Medical Corps and was assigned to a military hospital in Munchweiler, Germany. This was the first of many adventures for Sarah and Harold. Over the years they traveled widely – both in the US and abroad – and they collected friends wherever they went.

They had two children – Karen and Mike, born 10 years apart. The family lived in Belleville, Illinois; Lincoln, Nebraska; Albany, New York; and eventually Augusta, Georgia, where Harold and Sarah settled and stayed for 50 years. They were both active members and deacons at First Baptist Church. Harold taught a lively Sunday School class for many years and served in a number of lay leadership positions at the church. He was also a member of the Augusta Rotary Club.

As a teenager, Harold decided that he wanted to become a physical therapist after witnessing the first steps of a polio patient re-learning to walk in a hospital PT clinic. He successfully pursued that dream at a time when very few physical therapy programs accepted male students. He then dedicated his entire professional career to the field – 10 years as a physical therapist for the Veterans Administration and 25 years at the Medical College of Georgia as a professor, clinical supervisor, and as Director of Physical Therapy. What he always loved most, though, was working with patients. He lived his life in service to others, and it gave him great satisfaction.

He was a lifelong learner. He received a master’s degree in education in 1959 – and then returned to academia almost 30 years later to earn his Ed.D. degree from the University of Georgia. He enjoyed reading about history and Biblical studies, and he loved a good spy novel. He kept up with current events, sports, and local news. Just months before his death he was studying Spanish online. He could – and often would – strike up a conversation with anyone who crossed his path. His natural curiosity and compassion caused him to routinely go out of his way to welcome and befriend those who were new, those who were ignored, those who were misunderstood or mistreated.

Harold was well known for his sense of humor, which had a barbed edge and could quickly veer into sassy territory. He enjoyed teasing people, and he was always happy when they dished it back. He was also known for being a truth teller, regardless of who might be made uncomfortable by what he had to say. His standards were high, and he did not shrink from taking on difficulty with grace.

He was an avid golfer, nature photographer, animal lover, voracious reader and sports fan. He followed the Atlanta Braves, Georgia Bulldogs and the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Even though he chose to live in the South, he loved the Northwest, particularly Alaska – and he retained his Western bona fides: cowboy hat and boots and a fringed leather jacket.

At age 91, Harold died peacefully of natural causes in Athens on Nov. 3. In addition to Karen (John) and Mike’s wife Ann, he is survived by his brother Chuck (Linda) and his sister Judy, both of Phoenix, AZ, as well as six grandchildren – Cami (Nick), Grey (Brooklyn), Evan, Gemma, Michael, and Tommy – and two great-grandchildren – Smith James and Hampton.

A memorial service will be held at Augusta First Baptist Church in early January. Donations in his name can be made to any charity of your choice.

Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.