Paul David Smith “Smitty” and “David”, 76, of Athens AL passed peacefully after an extended illness, Thursday February 10, 2022, in his beloved home with the love of his life and wife of 22 years, Janet (McCafferty) Smith by his side. He was born February 27, 1945 in Richmond, Indiana to Paul D. Smith and Florence Grigson Miller. Smitty graduated from Centerville High School, where he played football, raised prize winning hogs and helped on his father’s cattle farm. He studied briefly at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana and at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana. He was a lifelong IU fan and was happy to know that IU beat Purdue one more time before he passed. He worked at the Chrysler Transmission Plant in Indianapolis, Indiana and Huntsville, Alabama where he retired and was a proud U.A.W. member. Smitty enjoyed building all sorts of things, digging around on his ‘chunk of dirt’, passing down family lore and spending time with Janet. He wanted his family to know that they were all deeply and completely loved more than they could ever know.
A visitation will be held at Rogersville Funeral Home on Saturday, February 19th from 5-6 p.m. with memorial service following.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Florence Grigson Miller; father, Paul D. (Mary) Smith and granddaughter Patricia Rogers.
He is survived by his wife, Janet McCafferty Smith; children, Denise (Tom) Valkyrie, Sarah Rogers of Bloomington, Indiana, Allen David Smith of Indianapolis, Indiana; Daughter, Jasmine Howell of Athens, Al; step-son, Brian Howell of Anderson, Al; grandchildren Thaddeus, Samantha (Christopher Kanz) and Hunter Valkyrie, Caliedh (Steven) Fraser, Virginia and Shirley Rogers, Jasmine Howell; great-grandchildren Chloe, Atticus and Cora Valkyrie and Calven Fraser; his brothers, sisters and step-brothers and step-sisters Tonya (Dan) Jennings of Orange Park, Florida, Miles T. (Brenda) Smith, Tim (Mitzi) Miller, Cindy (Wade Rheinhardt) See, Bill (Lori Bane) Miller of Richmond, Carol J. (Bill) Miller of Centerville, Robyn A. Bonner of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and Susan L. Randolph of Gordon, Ohio and a multitude of aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews who always looked forward to seeing him on Father’s day at the Smith family reunions in Indiana.
