John Edward Smith, age 88, passed away  on Tuesday December 31, 2024 in Panama City, Florida. He was born on July 28, 1936 in Beulaville,  North Carolina to the late Thurman and Gertie Smith.  Ed, or Smitty as he was called, served our country in the United States Coast Guard during the Korean & the Vietnam Wars.  During the cold war, he spent time on the USCGC Courier, Rhoades, Greece broadcasting Voice of America into the Soviet Unit.  In Vietnam, he served in Squadron 1, Da Nang aboard the Point Orient, Point Lomas and participated in the rescue and return of the Point Welcome during Operation Market time. He also served as Chief in charge of the Blood Point Bar and Cape San Blas Light houses before he retired at his Last duty station in Panama City, Florida. Upon retiring, he spent the next 25 years working in the tow boat industry along the eastern seaboard of the United States, the Gulf of Mexico, Central American and the Caribbean.  Ed's favorite hobbies were riding his motorcycle, vacationing in the Mountains of North Carolina, shrimping, and fishing. He is survived by his wife of 62 years; Blanchie June (Mercer) Smith, Son Johnnie Smith (Kim Smoot Smith) of Fairhope, Al, Daughter Christal Rabbe of DeFuniak Springs, Fl. Grandchildren, Taylor Smith, Jonathan Rabbe,  and Jacob Rabbe, great grandchildren, Matthew, Weston, Maverick, and Luke. Funeral services will be held on Monday, January 6, 2025 at 3 p.m. in the Wilson Funeral Home Chapel.  The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday from 2-3 p.m. prior to the service.  Graveside services will be held on Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at 10 a.m. in the Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola, FL.  In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorial contributions be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital, the Shriner's Children's Hospital or to the Wounded Warrior Project in memory of John Edward Smith.