IN LOVING MEMORY OF
John Irvin
Smith
August 14, 1928 – August 7, 2013
Obituary
JOHN IRVIN SMITH
John Irvin Smith was born August 14, 1928, in Hartford, Alabama, and passed away August 7, 2013, surrounded by his family. He is preceded in death by his parents Joseph Lee Smith and Blanche Hagler Smith; brothers Glen Horace, Paul Rex, and Joseph Smith; and son Douglas Avery Smith.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Bertha Mae Avery Smith; sons Johnny M. (Micky) and wife Wynette, Thomas R. (Tommy) and wife Anita; daughters Patsy M. (Pat) and friend Glenn Rice, and Serena H. and friend Kay Derrick; granddaughter Amy (Smith) Dodge, her husband Jim, and their son Dax; sister Sue Ellison and husband Larry; sister in-laws Genolyne Smith and Kathy Smith; aunt Mildred Dean; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
John grew up on farmland in the Hartford-Geneva County area (Union Church Community) of Alabama and joined the Navy as a young man, participating in the Bikini Atoll nuclear testing in 1946. In 1948, he married the love of his life, Bertha. They moved to Panama City, Florida, in 1955, where they built a home for their growing family. They joined Mt. Pleasant Primitive Baptist Church in the Ardilla Community of Dothan, Alabama, in 1952. John has been a Deacon in the church since 1956.
After working for Bay Line Railroad from 1955 to 1963, this talented mechanic opened his own garage. His motto was, "We Don't Guess, We Test!" John believed in honesty, quality work and professionalism. He and his family owned and operated Smith's Auto Parts and Garage in Parker from 1969 to 2001. He was a leader in the automotive repair industry. After training in automotive air conditioning repair in Detroit, he became the first mechanic in this area to repair air conditioners, and he helped other mechanics by teaching them to repair air conditioners also. In the 1960s, Smith's Garage became the first independent garage in Bay County to own an automotive engine oscilloscope. When ASE mechanic certification became available in the early 1970s, he successfully worked to make Haney Technical Center a permanent testing site.
John served others as an active member of the Lions Club beginning in 1992. He served in many capacities and offices locally, regionally, and at the state level. During his tenure as the Eye-Glass Chairman, he cleaned, graded, sorted, and labeled thousands of pairs of used eyeglasses for free distribution as far away as the Ukraine, Soviet Georgia, South America, and via the Hope Ship to other areas. Seeing a local need, he formed the first Lions Disaster Support Program in Lions District 35F and chaired the program for several years. The program distributed thousands of dollars in relief to natural disaster victims.
As a family man, a businessman, and a man of service, John touched countless lives. People may have known him as J.I., John I., John, Dad, Granddaddy, Great-Granddaddy, Deacon, Lion, Pops, or Mr. Smith. Regardless of the name people called him, it was always said with respect.
The family would like to give special thanks to Rhonda Brannon, ARNP, and her staff at Sea Oats Medical Clinic, and the staffs of Gentiva Health Care and Emerald Coast Hospice for their compassion and care during John's declining health.
Visitation will be held Friday, August 9, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Wilson Funeral Home. The funeral will be conducted Saturday, August 10, at 11:00 a.m. at Mt. Pleasant Primitive Baptist Church, 2901 East Cottonwood Road, Dothan, Alabama. The church is located on Highway 53, two miles south of Ross Clark Circle. Elders Micky Smith and Ernest Brooks will conduct the service. Asked to serve as pall bearers are ML Richardson, Robert Newsom, Buddy Bryan, Jimmy Johnson, Donald Stinson, and Tom Bailey. Honorary pall bearers include members of the Lynn Haven Lions Club and former Parkway Lions Club.
Expressions of sympathy may be submitted or viewed at:
www.WilsonFuneralHome.net
Flowers will be accepted or memorial donations may be made to Emerald Coast Hospice, 421 W Oak Avenue, Panama City, FL 32401, the North Florida Lions Eye Foundation, Inc., 2033 Raley Creek Drive East, Jacksonville, FL 32225 or to the Lynn Haven Lions Club, 502 E 26th Street, Lynn Haven, FL 32444 in memory of John Irvin Smith.
Wilson Funeral Home
214 Airport Road
Panama City, FL 32405
(850) 785-5272
John Irvin Smith was born August 14, 1928, in Hartford, Alabama, and passed away August 7, 2013, surrounded by his family. He is preceded in death by his parents Joseph Lee Smith and Blanche Hagler Smith; brothers Glen Horace, Paul Rex, and Joseph Smith; and son Douglas Avery Smith.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Bertha Mae Avery Smith; sons Johnny M. (Micky) and wife Wynette, Thomas R. (Tommy) and wife Anita; daughters Patsy M. (Pat) and friend Glenn Rice, and Serena H. and friend Kay Derrick; granddaughter Amy (Smith) Dodge, her husband Jim, and their son Dax; sister Sue Ellison and husband Larry; sister in-laws Genolyne Smith and Kathy Smith; aunt Mildred Dean; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
John grew up on farmland in the Hartford-Geneva County area (Union Church Community) of Alabama and joined the Navy as a young man, participating in the Bikini Atoll nuclear testing in 1946. In 1948, he married the love of his life, Bertha. They moved to Panama City, Florida, in 1955, where they built a home for their growing family. They joined Mt. Pleasant Primitive Baptist Church in the Ardilla Community of Dothan, Alabama, in 1952. John has been a Deacon in the church since 1956.
After working for Bay Line Railroad from 1955 to 1963, this talented mechanic opened his own garage. His motto was, "We Don't Guess, We Test!" John believed in honesty, quality work and professionalism. He and his family owned and operated Smith's Auto Parts and Garage in Parker from 1969 to 2001. He was a leader in the automotive repair industry. After training in automotive air conditioning repair in Detroit, he became the first mechanic in this area to repair air conditioners, and he helped other mechanics by teaching them to repair air conditioners also. In the 1960s, Smith's Garage became the first independent garage in Bay County to own an automotive engine oscilloscope. When ASE mechanic certification became available in the early 1970s, he successfully worked to make Haney Technical Center a permanent testing site.
John served others as an active member of the Lions Club beginning in 1992. He served in many capacities and offices locally, regionally, and at the state level. During his tenure as the Eye-Glass Chairman, he cleaned, graded, sorted, and labeled thousands of pairs of used eyeglasses for free distribution as far away as the Ukraine, Soviet Georgia, South America, and via the Hope Ship to other areas. Seeing a local need, he formed the first Lions Disaster Support Program in Lions District 35F and chaired the program for several years. The program distributed thousands of dollars in relief to natural disaster victims.
As a family man, a businessman, and a man of service, John touched countless lives. People may have known him as J.I., John I., John, Dad, Granddaddy, Great-Granddaddy, Deacon, Lion, Pops, or Mr. Smith. Regardless of the name people called him, it was always said with respect.
The family would like to give special thanks to Rhonda Brannon, ARNP, and her staff at Sea Oats Medical Clinic, and the staffs of Gentiva Health Care and Emerald Coast Hospice for their compassion and care during John's declining health.
Visitation will be held Friday, August 9, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Wilson Funeral Home. The funeral will be conducted Saturday, August 10, at 11:00 a.m. at Mt. Pleasant Primitive Baptist Church, 2901 East Cottonwood Road, Dothan, Alabama. The church is located on Highway 53, two miles south of Ross Clark Circle. Elders Micky Smith and Ernest Brooks will conduct the service. Asked to serve as pall bearers are ML Richardson, Robert Newsom, Buddy Bryan, Jimmy Johnson, Donald Stinson, and Tom Bailey. Honorary pall bearers include members of the Lynn Haven Lions Club and former Parkway Lions Club.
Expressions of sympathy may be submitted or viewed at:
www.WilsonFuneralHome.net
Flowers will be accepted or memorial donations may be made to Emerald Coast Hospice, 421 W Oak Avenue, Panama City, FL 32401, the North Florida Lions Eye Foundation, Inc., 2033 Raley Creek Drive East, Jacksonville, FL 32225 or to the Lynn Haven Lions Club, 502 E 26th Street, Lynn Haven, FL 32444 in memory of John Irvin Smith.
Wilson Funeral Home
214 Airport Road
Panama City, FL 32405
(850) 785-5272
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John Irvin Smith, please visit our flower store.
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