Smith, Kenneth Howard

Kenneth Howard Smith, 87, of Blacksburg, died of a stroke on February 19,2013, in Blacksburg. He was born in Oxford, Mich. in 1925, to Herbert P. Smith and Annabelle Ruth Franz, as their first child of seven.

The family lived on a farm in Climax, Mich., raising corn. At age 17, he joined the United States Navy to serve in World War II, and he was honorably discharged in 1946, with the rank of Aviation Metalsmith 3rd Class. He graduated from University of Chicago in 1951 with a degree in geography.

He married Pearl Stephania Roediger on March 15, 1952, at the St. Rose of Lima Church in Chicago, Ill. He held positions at several commercial map-making firms, and then joined the U.S. Geological Survey in 1960. For seven years, the growing family was assigned to multiple locations in the Western District and then the Eastern District, where he performed revisions on the USGS topographic maps. In 1967, he was assigned permanently to USGS Headquarters, where he remained until retirement in 1988.

He resided in the Greenbriar subdivision in Fairfax until his wife, Pearl, passed away in 2009. He then moved to the ‘Heritage House’ in Blacksburg, where he enjoyed his puzzles with Hugh, Ora, and Kathy. The family wishes to thank them for taking wonderful care of him. We also would like to thank BT Access, VT Adult Day Care Services, and Dr.Beato for their care in his later years.

He is survived by his children, Nancy Blemly and husband, Mike ,of Millersville Ms., David Smith and wife, Kay Culver, of Falls Church, Jeff Curren and wife, Angela, of Elk Grove, Calif., Karen Smith and Jim, of Blacksburg; grandchildren, Ben Hamilton and Angelo, Samuel and Ethan Curren; and his sisters in Michigan, Evelyn Acker, Rosalie Fromm, and Lorraine Drallette.

Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. March 11,2013, at Fairfax Memorial Park, with Father Todd officiating.

Any memorial contributions can be sent to NRV Agency on Aging (Meals on Wheels) at 141 E. Main St., 500 Pulaski VA 24301.