SMITH (VETERAN VIET), BRUCE BYRON - White County, Arkansas | BRUCE BYRON SMITH (VETERAN VIET) - Arkansas Gravestone Photos

Bruce Byron SMITH (VETERAN VIET)

Oak Grove Cemetery
White County,
Arkansas

SERGEANT US Air Force
Vietnam
October 6, 1946 - January 28, 2015

Obituary
arkansasonline.com

Bruce Byron Smith departed this life at his home in Searcy at the age of 68 on January 28, 2015. He was born October 6, 1946 in Columbia, Indiana to Roberta Evans Smith and Jim Smith.

His wife, ReBecca Van Patten Smith, stepdaughter, Deana Marie Quattlebaum and one sister Brenda Wagnite and husband Wes of Newberry, South Carolina, survive him.

Bruce's family moved to Searcy in 1953 where he entered Mrs. Millar's second grade. He was a graduate of Searcy High School and the University of Tennessee where he joined the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and became an avid supporter of the All Volunteers Sports. In addition to his Bachelor of Science Degree, Bruce was a graduate of the National Commerce Lending School, Norman, Oklahoma and a graduate of the Southern Banking School of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

During the Vietnam Era Bruce served in the U.S. Air Force in Taiwan as a Linguist to North Vietnam. Bruce served as President of the Bank of Bartlett, Tennessee 23 of his 24 years there. He retired from Triumph Bank in Memphis as Senior Loan Officer in 2008. Upon retirement, he returned to his hometown of Searcy where he joined the First United Methodist Church, the Rotary Club and was active in the Searcy Athletic Club as his health permitted. He volunteered with the Literacy Council in Searcy and assisted several people with learning English. One of his students was Vietnamese who was surprised when Bruce explained a term in his native language. He also volunteered at the White Medical Center and the Methodist Church Thrift Store.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to caregiver Sandy May, Dr. Mitzi Washington, ADH Hospice, and Fort Roots Veterans Administration for their kindness, care and assistance given during Bruce's last days.

Visitation from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, January 29, 2015 in the Wesley Room of the First United Methodist Church on Searcy.

The Funeral Service will be on Friday, January 30, 2015 at 11 a.m. at the First Methodist Church in Searcy. A private burial service will be at a later date. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Searcy or the Amanda Taylor Smith's Memorial Scholarship at St. Mary's School in Memphis, Tenn. For online guestbook www.rollerfuneralhomes.com.

Published January 29, 2015

Contributed on 3/1/20 by hawkinsdonna48
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Record #: 1301706

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Submitted: 3/1/20 • Approved: 3/3/20 • Last Updated: 3/6/20 • R1301706-G0-S3

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