Smith Jr., Roy Glenn

Roy Glenn Smith Jr., of Panama City, Fla., died on October 26, 2008, at Destin Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. Roy was born in Dublin, Va., on December 30, 1918, and was the son of the late Roy Glenn Smith Sr. and Anna Belle Farmer Smith.

He graduated from Radford High School and worked for several local companies. Roy joined the United States Army Air Corps in 1939 as an aircraft mechanic. He was stationed at Pearl Harbor as a P-40 mechanic when it was attacked by Japan. He was transferred to Midway Island to support P-40s on the island and was there when the Japanese bombed the American installation. Roy was accepted into the officer-training program and became qualified on B-17 and B-24 heavy bombers. He was assigned to the 15th Air Force, 454th Bombardment Group, 739 Squadron stationed at San Giovanni Airfield in southern Italy. The 454th was a highly decorated unit receiving two Presidential Citations and 12 Campaign Awards. Roy flew 31 combat missions over Europe in B-24 Liberators and received the Air Medal with One Oak Leaf Cluster. He was a proud member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association and the 454th Bombardment Group Association.

After World War II he worked in several different businesses in California and Virginia before settling on a career in auto sales. Roy worked for the local Cadillac dealer in Columbia, S.C., for over 30 years and received a multitude of Cadillac sales awards. Roy had many friends and loved to fish and play golf. He was a long-time member of the Columbia Country Club where he played regularly.

His parents; a brother, Herman E. Smith, of Dublin, Va.; and a sister, Laura Smith Dodd, of Nashville, Tenn., preceded Roy in death. He is survived by three children, Diana Wickizer, of Tualatin, Ore., Peggy Gordon, of West Linn, Ore., and Dwight Smith, of Columbia, S.C.; two grandchildren, Jeffery and Alex; two great-grandchildren, Payton and Emma; a sister, Julia Smith Hines, of Fort Collins, Colo.; three brothers, John W. Smith, of Richmond, Va., Bobbie E. Smith, of Dublin, Va., and Danny L. Smith, of Panama City Beach, Fla.

Memorial graveside services will be held 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26, 2009, at the Mt. View United Methodist Church Cemetery in Dublin, Va., with the Rev. Bobby Ward officiating The VFW Post #1184 will conduct Military Honors. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.seaglefuneralhome.com Arrangements by Thomas M. Seagle & Sons, Pulaski, Va.