John Howard Smith Obituary

John Howard Smith attended Terry Parker High School in Jacksonville, FL. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about John Howard Smith.

Graduation Year	Class of 1972
Date of Passing	Dec 30, 2012
About	Faithful Christian, compassionate man, John Howard Smith, 58, died Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012, in a tragic motorcycle accident on a military base in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. John along with his wife Rena were exploring the world together in the UAE as they were advancing their careers in aviation. Born in New Orleans, growing up a Civil Engineers son and living from Casper, WY to Fort Lauderdale, FL. John was a loving and committed father, raising his son and daughters in Montana and Colorado. John was a loving and devoted husband, married to Rena for over 22yrs. John joined the U.S. Army in 1983 as an aircraft turbine engine mechanic and dedicated 22 years to his country. He was a mechanic and spent most of his career as a UH-60 helicopter crew-chief, reaching the rank of Staff Sergeant. He took his leadership responsibilities to heart ensuring the welfare of his soldiers leaving lasting memories of a true mentor and making forever friends. During his 22-year military career, he served in five overseas deployments from Honduras to El Salvador as well as Bosnia and including Operation Iraqi Freedom. He married Rena Michelle Hernandez (Smith) on Sept. 17, 1990, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and they lived together raising their son and building their family in Hamilton and Helena, Montana, before relocating to Windsor, Colorado to be closer to grandchildren. John was preceded in death by his mother, Reta Mae (Howard) Smith and his brother Daniel Bradley Smith. John is survived by his wife, Rena Hernandez Smith of Windsor; his two daughters, Virginia (Caleb) Rogers of Greeley, Colo., and their four children, Caleb, Caroline, Charlotte Mae and Carson, and Sarah (Justin) Schaller of Greeley, Colo., and their two children, Blythe and Beau; and his son, Erik Matthew Smith of Windsor. He is also survived by his father, Homer Turner Smith, of Plantation, Fla; and three siblings, Joyce Ann Smith of Lexington, Ky., Kay (Douglas) Lindley of Roswell, Ga., and her two sons, Joshua and John Marshall, and Margaret (Darrin) Smith of Plantation, Fla., and their son, Homer Turner III. Services are 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13, at Mt. Moriah Church in Penrod, Ky. Burial will follow in Mt. Moriah Church Cemetery. Visitation is from 2 to 6 p.m. today, Jan. 12, at James H. Davis Funeral Home & Crematory in Owensboro, Ky. The full obituary may be viewed and condolence messages may be sent at www.davisfuneralhome.com