Dennis Gerald Smith, known as “Smitty” to most, was born on Sunday, October 4th, 1936 in Palisade, Nebraska to Clifford Clinton Smith and Ardith Geraldine (McCormick) Smith. Smitty passed away peacefully Friday afternoon, September 2nd, 2016 at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. His wife Carol of 43 years was at his bedside when he passed away.

As a teen he could be found working alongside his father and brother, Bill, in the family business, Smith Sales and Service repairing and servicing cars and tractors. Smitty graduated in 1954 from Palisade High School.

Following high school, Smitty enlisted in the Navy on January 26, 1957. Following boot camp and specialized training in aviation, he went to his first duty station at NAS Atsugi, Japan beginning his career as an Aviation Machinist Mate. Smitty came to NAS Whidbey Island in 1968 where he served the rest of his military career retiring with 30 years of service. He retired as a Master Chief Petty Officer on February 1st, 1987 from VAQ-129.

During his time in the service, he received numerous awards including the Navy Achievement Medal with Combat V, Navy Commendation Medal, Vietnam service medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross medal, and the Good Conduct medal (8 awards).

After retiring from the service he took a short break from the military going to work for the Oak Harbor School District as a janitor for a year, working alongside military colleagues he had retired with. In 1988 he returned back to NAS Whidbey as an Aviation Inspector for the Grumman Gulfstream TC-4C aircraft until the squadron was disestablished in 1995. Shortly after, he was able to continue his career working as an Aircraft Engine Mechanic until 2012 when he retired.

In 1969, Smitty met the love of his life, Carol Jean Little and would later marry her on August 22, 1973. They built a home together in Oak Harbor, WA where they would raise their family and spend the rest of their lives building many memories together.

On February 10, 1976 they welcomed their first child, a boy, Gerald Dennis. A year later on March 12, 1977 they welcomed a daughter, Geraldine Denise “Sissy”. Several years later on July 21, 1983 another boy was born into the Smith household, Christopher Clinton.

During Smitty’s youthful years, he and Carol spent a lot of time fishing on his boat. When the kids were younger, they would pack the kids up and take them on the boat, other times he’d go out with his buddies. He also spent time hunting with his wife and friends.

When he wasn’t watching his college football team the Nebraska Cornhuskers he spent a great deal of his spare time tinkering in the garage, working on his ’72 Dodge “Big Red”, restoring his Plymouth Fury or just working on home repair projects. Smitty was a very hands-on man who was able to fix just about anything that was thrown at him. If he wasn’t working on his own vehicles, he was helping friends.

He was a long time member of various organizations. He was a member of the CPO Club, Elks Lodge, American Legion and the Masonic Lodge in McCook, Nebraska. He was a life member of the Fleet Reserve and of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).

He was well known and well liked in the Oak Harbor community. Anywhere he went, he would run into someone he knew and would stand there and talk about anything and everything. People would see him driving in “Big Red” and wave and of course he’d smile and wave back and at times blow the Ahooga horn.

Smitty will be greatly missed but never forgotten.

Smitty is survived by his beloved wife and best friend of 43 years, Carol J. Smith; two sons, Gerald Smith and his wife Christina, Christopher Smith and his wife Cynthia; daughter, Geraldine “Sissy” Brown (Smith) and her husband George; seven grandchildren, Kindra, Dakota, Clinton, Gabe, Ryan, Cadence and Cooper. He is also survived by his brother Bill Smith and his wife Beth; along with his life-long friends Fred and Nada Krotter; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Clifford Clinton Smith, Ardith Geraldine (McCormick) Smith and sister, Isletta Ann Zolper (Smith).

A memorial service for Smitty will be at the NAS Whidbey Chief Petty Officers' Club, Oak Harbor, WA on Saturday, September 17, 2016 from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

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