Stuart E Smith

Stuart Earl Smith was born December 13, 1945 in England to parents Albert Earl (Major, US Army during World War II) and Iris Margaret Ashby.

He was baptized March 3, 1946 in the Kettering Parish Church. He moved from England with parents and younger brother, Rodney, to New Jersey when he was 5 years old. His younger sister, Deborah, and brother, David were born in New Jersey.

Stu graduated from Teaneck High School in 1963. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1963 and served at various USAF training bases and 2 years overseas at Takhli Air Base, Thailand during the Vietnam War. He returned to the states in 1968 and was based at Lowry AFB, Denver Colorado.

He met Diann Teske in Denver and they were married July 11, 1970 in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. Shortly before their marriage Stuart was confirmed in the Lutheran Church (Christ Our Redeemer) in Denver.

The USAF relocated the Smiths multiple times. They had three children: Robyn, (Denver, Colorado), Ryan, (Sedalia, Missouri) and Alison, (High Wycombe, England). Stu obtained a bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering at Louisiana Tech in 1979 through USAF education programs and continued with a Master’s in Public Administration while serving in England. He received his Commission as an Officer in the USAF and served 10 more years; many of those years at High Wycombe Air Station, England, as the Base Civil Engineer. His last assignment was at Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, retiring as a Captain in 1989.

The family relocated to the Dallas, Texas where he was the Director of Healthcare Facility Management for Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas in 1989-1995. From 1995 to 2000, he was offered a position to help build the North Austin Medical Center in Austin. The family then moved to Georgetown, Texas and lived there until 2000, when they returned to the Dallas area for another 10 years of Healthcare Engineering employment.
During his professional career, Stuart served on various National Healthcare committees and Boards especially in the 1990’s when he also obtained his Professional Engineering (PE) license. He retired from employment in 2010.

Over the years, Stu enjoyed dirt bike riding, horseback riding, model railroading, fishing, hunting, and watching Denver Bronco and Texas Aggie football. He served on various committees at Calvary Lutheran Church while his younger children attended the day school there. He was a proud Aggie Dad; all three of his children are Texas A&M graduates.

Shortly after his retirement, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease and although he fought bravely for several years, on August 22, 2018 he went to his heavenly home to be with Jesus.

Stuart is survived by his loving wife; Diann R Smith, children; Robyn LeMaire and her husband Walter, Ryan Smith and his wife Meaghan and Alison Prince and her husband Stephen, grandchildren; Avery and Shelby LeMaire, Tyler and Dawson Smith and Eli Prince, sister; Debbie Makovec and her husband Drew, brother; Dave Smith and his wife Nancy, niece; Kelli Sickler and great nieces and nephew Olivia and Isabella Sickler, Keira and Andrew Bourkland and their father, Eric Bourkland. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother; Rodney Smith and niece; Kristin Bourkland.

A funeral service to celebrate Stuart’s life will be held Wednesday, August 29, 2018 at 10:30 A.M. at Dallas Calvary Lutheran Church, 9807 Church Rd., Dallas, Texas with Pastor John Koelpin officiating. A visitation will be held prior to the service from 9:45-10:30 A.M.

Stuart will be laid to rest with full military honors at the Dallas-Ft Worth National Cemetery, Dallas, Texas. After serving 26 years in the U.S. Air Force as an Officer.

If desired, contributions may be made to Dallas Calvary Lutheran Church or the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, Illinois 60601-7633, www.alz.org/join_the_cause_donate.asp or 800-272-3900