Edward Demming Smith Jr.

Demming was born October 16, 1923 in Wilmington, North Carolina to the late Edward Demming Smith, Sr., and Anna Elizabeth Pickett Smith. He graduated from New Hanover High School in 1941 and enlisted in the 20th Air Force/Pacific Theater. He was a lead navigator officer for the 9th Bomber Group, flew 35 missions and received the Distinguished Flying Cross. After returning from the war, he attended North Carolina State University and graduated in 1949 with a mechanical engineering degree. That same year he married Agnes Dupay Harrell. They had a strong marriage of 55 wonderful years.

Demming had a long working career beginning in Maryland at the Ballistic Research Laboratory (1949-1951) and served in top management positions for the General Electric Company in Cleveland, Ohio and Goldsboro, North Carolina from 1951-1984. After serving as plant manager in Goldsboro, he retired early to be able to pursue his interests and spend more time with his family.

He was an active member of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Goldsboro and First United Methodist Church of Cary. Because of his compassion for people, he was heavily involved in community service including, The United Way, The Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis and Boy Scouts. He served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Wayne Community College. He and Agnes had a special love for children, and he served for several years on the Board of Directors of the Methodist Home for Children.

In 2003, Demming and Agnes moved to Glenaire and he eagerly embraced his new home. His love for people certainly applied to this new environment as well. He enjoyed making new friends and experiencing all that Glenaire offered to its residents.

Demming’s warm and caring spirit and his exuberance and tireless effort to help others made him a stranger to none. He had a quiet abiding faith and was an example of how to truly live your life. He believed in the power of prayer for his family and all those who crossed his path with needs. His faith gave him such a positive, hopeful outlook on life and his genuine smile and easy conversation made a lasting impression on whomever he met. In retirement, his love for bird watching began a new, creative hobby…wood carving. He captured the beauty of birds in wood and he shared them with his family and displayed them for friends. His passion for sport, especially his Wolfpack, was contagious, making him a loyal and generous North Carolina State alumnus. Having grown up in Wilmington, the beach was a place he loved to go pier or surf fishing, enjoy time with his family or catching the next big wave. He loved hosting friends and family in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia at the family retreat, Almost Heaven. Demming loved his family dearly. His family was blessed to have such a man to call Dad.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Agnes Harrell Smith and a grandson, James William Durham. Demming is survived by his son, Edward Demming Smith, III and wife, Ellie; daughters, Susan Durham and husband, Carl, Amy McBennett and husband, Larry, and Rebecca Warren; eight grandchildren, Jonathan, Nathan and wife, Kawanta, Jennifer, Brendan, Christopher, Danielle, Stephanie and Benjamin; and five great grandchildren, Henry, Ayanna, Greta, Ava and Elias.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 AM Saturday, December 15, 2018 at Glenaire Retirement Community Auditorium, 4000 Glenaire Circle, Cary, North Carolina 27511. The family will receive friends immediately following the service. A graveside service will follow at 3:00 PM at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Greensboro, North Carolina.

If you wish to donate in Demming’s memory, please send a donation in his name to the Presbyterian Homes Foundation. If sending a check, put Glenaire on the memo line. You may also give through their website: glenaire.org.

Demming’s family would like to express its sincere appreciation for the loving care from the Glenaire Assisted Living staff and from the North Skill Unit. Thank you for all the prayers, encouraging words and visits from all his dear friends. He loved all of you! We will never forget all your acts of kindness and love. You have all been a blessing to our family.

Condolences may be sent to www.BrownWynneCary.com