Senior Chief Petty Officer (US Navy Retired) Roy William Smith (also affectionately known as “Pa” and “Chief”, 84, passed gently across old naval waters on Thursday, August 22, 2013.
Chief Smith was born in Green Creek, NC to the late Roy Mischer and Bessie Toney Smith and widower of Inza Harris Smith. He was a member of Cannon’s Campground United Methodist Church.
Chief Smith faithfully served in the US Navy for 30 years. His love was for the PT Boats, of which he was one of the last surviving members who served on PT Boats at the end of WWII. He assisted in the decommissioning of the PT Boats at the end of the war. He also served in the Vietnam and Korean Wars. In the last seven years of his career, he was the Chief Naval Recruiter in the Upstate of South Carolina. Throughout his career, he received many commendations, medals and awards for meritorious service to his country. He traveled the world and enjoyed sharing stories of his Navy life with others. He was quite a historian when it came to the military and the United States.
Upon his retirement from the US Navy, he served as the Fleet Manager at the Spartanburg Main Post Office for eleven years. He retired once again to spend time caring for his wife and family, gardening, tinkering with old cars, and rebuilding starters and alternators through his garage “Smitty’s Auto-Electric”. Chief Smith was an avid fan of John’s Cafe, eating there daily, several times a day! If one were to ask him about his greatest legacy, he would tell you that it is his children, grandchildren and great grandchild.
He is survived by a son, Tim (Betty) Smith of Mattapoisett, MA; daughter, Rev. Traci Smith-Bennett (Wally) of Spartanburg; son, Jeff (Melissa) Smith of Williamston; grandchildren, Holly (Patrick) Maloof of MA, Stephanie Bennett of Rock Hill, Jennifer Bennett of Gaffney, Adam Bennett of Spartanburg, Elizabeth Smith and Dillon Smith both of Williamston a great grandson, Timothy Martin Maloof of MA; a brother, Carl Smith of Green Creek, NC; a sister, Vivian Smith of Green Creek, NC; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by four sisters, Margaret Culbreth, Mildred Smith, Ann Carter and Kathryn Dula.
The family received friends on Sunday, August 25, 2013 at Petty Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life followed at the funeral home chapel conducted by Rev. Mac Kinnett, Rev. Jim Johnson and Rev. David Ervin. Burial with full military honors was in in Evergreen Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Food Pantry, Cannon’s Campground UMC, 3450 Cannons Campground Road, Spartanburg, SC 29307.