Donald Smith Obituary

Lieutenant Colonel Donald H. Smith, Jr. Retired, 77, died on March 25, 2007, in Colorado Springs. Don was born December 8, 1929 at Walter Reed Hospital, Washington, D.C. As a member of a distinguished military family, Don was the eldest of two children. The family moved often, living in Michigan; Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; and Fort Monroe, Virginia. He graduated from the Fork Union Military Academy, Virginia, where he played in the band. In 1951, he received a B.A. in Mathematics from his father's alma mater, Michigan State. He was commissioned into the Army through the ROTC program and was stationed in Korea and Japan. While in Japan, he met his wife, Fumiko Tanabe. They were married December 26, 1957. After serving overseas, Don and his wife moved to College Station, Texas, where he taught ROTC at Texas A&M. His daughter, Margaret, was born there. The family then moved to Fort Bliss, in El Paso, Texas, where they lost a son. Don was next stationed in Germany, but his family remained at Fort McPherson. His son, Davis, was born in Atlanta. The family then moved to Monroe, Louisiana, where Don taught ROTC at Northeast Louisiana State and his youngest son, Steven, was born. The family moved to Korea, where Don served as Inspector General. The family made a final move to Okinawa, where Don retired as head of security. In 1971, Don and his family settled in Colorado Springs. He received an MBA from the University of Colorado in 1975 and his CPA in 1976. He then began an 18-year career in federal Civil Service at Fort Carson, where he served as a certified internal auditor. He retired in 1996. Don is survived by his wife Fumiko, his sister Constance Huyck (Westminster), three children, Margaret, Davis, and Steven, and three grandchildren, Sara, Jenny, and Ian. A private memorial service and cremation are planned. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Pikes Peak Hospice.