George Smith Lt. (Ret.) Col.

Lt. Col. George Smith, USAF (Ret.) was born in Forty Fort, PA on February 19, 1929 to George W. Smith and Helen Landay Smith. He graduated from Huntingdon High School in Huntingdon, PA and Juanita College, also in Huntingdon, with a BS Degree in Mathematics. He was active both in High School and College in football and basketball and was scheduled as an honorable mention on the small college Little All-American Football team in 1949. Upon graduation in 1950, George enlisted in the USAF and served in Korea as a navigator on the B-26 Invader. Upon return from Korea in 1953, he married his beloved wife Patricia Hetrick, also from Huntingdon. Following his first tour of duty after returning from Korea, he was assigned to the University of Washington in Seattle, WA to pursue a degree in Electrical Engineering. Upon graduation in 1959, George was assigned to Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque, NM to the Air Force Weapons Laboratory. George's career in the Air Force primarily focused on development and test of nuclear and conventional munitions. Following assignments at Kirtland AFB, Eglin AFB and Hanscom AFB, George was assigned to the AC130 gunship program and flew combat missions in Vietnam. He retired from the Air Force in 1974 to pursue a career as an electrical engineer with GTE Lenkurt and Siemens Electric. Upon leaving Siemens, George and Pat bought a travel trailer, went on a two month trip to Alaska and continued to pursue their interests in the civilian world. They traveled extensively, enjoyed skiing, hunting and fishing together and were truly best friends. George was preceded in death by his parents, George W. Smith and Helen E. Smith; his beloved wife, Patricia; and his brother, Robert E. Smith. He is survived by his son, Michael D. Smith; and daughter, Robin L. Schmidt and husband John C. Schmidt; his grandson, Robin C. Smith and granddaughter, Kylie A. Schuster; and his brother, Harold F. Smith. Funeral services will be held on Monday, May 18, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at FRENCH - Wyoming with a reception following the funeral. Burial will follow with military honors provided by the United States Air Force at Santa Fe National Cemetery at 2:15 p.m. on Monday, May 18, 2015. FRENCH - Wyoming 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE (505) 823-9400