Paul Samuel Smith
Of Dade City, Florida, formerly of Milford, passed away Sunday, May 2, 2010 following a long illness at the Hernando Pasco Hospice Care Center in Dade City, his oldest son and wife keeping vigil. He was 88.
Paul was born on June 27, 1921 in Seaford, son of the late John J. Smith and Frances Smith Milligan.
A proud veteran of the United States Army Air Corps, the military played a prominent and influential role throughout his life starting with World War II. Early in 1942 he volunteered for and served in the Army Air Corps. After World War II, he was a member of the Delaware Air National Guard. During the Korean War of the 1950's his unit of the Delaware Air National Guard was placed on active duty status with the United States Air Force. These wartime assignments gave him opportunities which broadened his outlook and experience beyond his youthful dreams. Importantly, it also provided him with lifetime skills receiving training as an aircraft mechanic at Delgado Vocational School in New Orleans in 1942.
Mr. Smith carried this skill into civilian life, retiring in 1972 from Civil Service as an aircraft mechanic at the Dover Air Force Base.
The military even provided a setting for Paul to meet his wife Bobbie. They met at a USO dance at the Dover Air Force Base on March 17, 1945 and were married at the Air Force Base Chapel by the Base Chaplain on June 30th of that year, a brief courtship which became a 65 year partnership.
In his final two years of life, the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs made Paul part of their family, providing him loving care at Baldomero Lopez Veterans Nursing Home in Land'O Lakes, Florida.
He and his wife were avid travelers, mostly by RV, visiting Mexico, Canada and every state except Hawaii. They also lived in the Azores, Portugal almost seven years which provided many opportunities to travel in Europe. They lived at Travelers Rest Resort near Dade City since 1990, first as winter residents, while maintaining their home in Milford. In 2000 they became Florida residents and moved into a permanent home at Travelers Rest.
Mr. Smith was a member of the Avenue United Methodist Church in Milford for more than thirty years and at the time of his death, was a member of the Spring Lake United Methodist Church in Brooksville, Florida. For more than forty years he was an active member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE), most of that time with the Elks Lodge #2401 in Milford. In 2009 he was recognized with the Elks Lifetime Membership.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Smith was preceded in death by a brother, Medford Smith.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Marie "Bobbie" Gambill Smith; three sons, Paul F. Smith of Altoona, PA; Stephen P. Smith and his wife Patricia of Smyrna and Gregory B. Smith and his wife Denise of Jamestown, NC; four brothers, Donald Milligan and his wife Dolores of Seaford, Frank Milligan and his wife Roberta of Laurel, Lester Smith and his wife Dolores of Newark and Clifford Smith and his wife Rose of Wilmington; a sister-in-law, Floria Smith of Millsboro; three grandsons; Curtis C. Smith and his wife Beckey, Jamey P. Smith and Dakota A. Smith; two granddaughters, Erin A. Smith and Sierra M. Smith and many cousins, nephews and nieces.
Services with an Elks service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 6, 2010 at the Avenue United Methodist Church, 20 N. Church Street, Milford, where friends may call one hour prior.
Entombment with military honors will take place at Barratts Chapel Cemetery in Frederica.
In lieu of flowers, friends are encouraged to make a memorial donation to the charity of their choice.
(05/03/10)