Obituary of Gene A. Smith

Mr. Gene A. Smith, age 78, of Florence, Alabama, formerly of Ozark, died Tuesday, February 26, 2008, in Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital in Florence. Funeral services will be 2:00 P. M. Friday, February 29, 2008, in the Chapel of Holman Funeral Home in Ozark with his brother, Reverend Gary Smith, officiating. Interment will follow with Military Honors in Woodlawn Memory Gardens, Holman Funeral Home of Ozark directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 12:30 P. M. Friday until service time. Mr. Smith was born September 24, 1929 in Midland City. He entered the Army Air Corp in 1946 and retired from the United States Air Force as an E9 in 1966, making Ozark his home. He worked as an Air Traffic Controller at Cairns Army Airfield for 17 years, retiring in 1983. Following his retirement, he and his wife Billie moved to Killen, Alabama where he resided until 2006 when he started living full time in his camper, visiting his family and friends. Gene was an avid golfer and enjoyed playing the Fort Rucker courses. In addition to his parents, Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Billie Greer Smith in 1997, and his son, Ken Smith in 1969. Survivors include two daughters and sons-in-law, Adonna and Jerry Combs of Columbus, Indiana; Pamela and Larry Dawson of Tulsa, Oklahoma; two sisters, Carolyn Smith and Louise Smith of Mississippi; one brother, Reverend Gary Smith from Boaz, Alabama; two grandson, Eric Blankenship and his wife, Brandi, Jason Carroll and his wife, Jennifer; one granddaughter, Keela Blankenship; four great grandchildren, Jaxon Blankenship, Seth Blankenship, Jared Carroll and Jocelyn Carroll. Flowers will be omitted and memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 2346 West Main Street - Suite 3, Dothan, Alabama 36301. Service Information