Wesley Earl Smith

Wesley Earl Smith passed away on May 18, 2019, at the age of 93. Wesley was born in Keene, New Hampshire on July 9, 1925. He was preceded in death by his loving wife Virginia “Ginny” Mosher Smith of 65 years and his daughter Diane Lee Smith Boettcher (Harold Boettcher), father Earl Arden Smith, mother Corine E. Boomhower, stepmother Elzo Smith, and brother Raymond Smith. He is survived by a brother Floyd Smith (Janet) of Lady Lake, Florida. His daughters: Andrea Smith Lewis (Paul) of Tallahassee, Florida, Kelly Smith Corell from Soddy Daisy, Tennessee, and Jennifer Smith-Dakin (Nick) of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Grandchildren: Chris Bremer (Colleen), Courtney Knickerbocker (Ellis), Alysia Boettcher Maxie (Stephen), Lori Boettcher Saal (Chad), Rachel Corell (Chris), Joshua Corell, Matthew Pirtle, and Kelsey Payne. Great Grandchildren: Clark Bremer, Cecelia Bremer, David Knickerbocker, Grace Knickerbocker, Ruby Knickerbocker, Aaron Maxie, Eli Maxie, Joseph Saal, Evelyn Saal. Wesley enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a flight engineer during World War II. He served as a Volunteer Firefighter in Keene, New Hampshire, for 11 years. At the age of 18, he built his first home, with his own hands and some help from his father. After WWII, he met his wife Ginny, and resided in Keene, New Hampshire, where they started their family. Wesley left his hometown of Keene, N.H. to pursue a career at Martin Co. in Orlando, Florida, in 1950s, with his wife, Ginny, and daughters, Andrea and Diane. During his time at Martin Co., he worked on machining nose cones for Sprint missiles, as well as, parts for Saturn Missiles. During the 1960s, his family grew after the birth of two more daughters, Kelly and Jennifer. Soon after, he relocated to Chester, Virginia to pursue a career in Research and Development at Reynolds Aluminum. During his career at Reynolds Aluminum, Wesley served as a supervisor of the Can Development Center and was credited with two major patents, including the beverage can pop-top and nitrogen injection system for the preservation of potato chips and other bagged snacks. He retired in 1993, to focus on his love of traveling, with his wife, Ginny. Together, they spent well over 15 years traveling in their R.V. across America and Canada. Not only did they get to every state in the continental U.S, but they achieved their dream of exploring our National Parks and Alaska. Wesley was a gentle, kind-hearted man, who love his family beyond words. He was a man of strong faith. During his years in Chester, Virginia, he was a member of the Chester United Methodist (UMC) Church and the UMC Men’s Club. Throughout his life, he demonstrated his gift to build, create, or design, anything he envisioned. Wesley had a passion for woodworking and was a master wood craftsman. He enjoyed creating and building many unique furniture pieces for his family and toys for his children and great grandchildren. Funeral service will be held on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 at 12:00 p.m. at Bevis Funeral Home of Tallahassee. Burial will be at a later date in Sunset Memorial Park, in Chester, Virginia. Todd Wahlquist with Bevis Funeral Home (850-385-2193, www.bevisfh.com) is assisting the family with their arrangements.

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Wesley Earl Smith

July 9, 1925 - May 18, 2019