John Edward Smith, 75, of Great Mills, MD passed away on June 20, 2019 at home surrounded by his loving family. John was born on April 10, 1944 in West Palm Beach, FL to the late 1st Lieutenant, Philip Linden Smith and Louise (Bowery) Smith.

John served in the U.S. Army from April of 1964 until his honorable discharge as 1st Lieutenant in July of 1968. While in the military he qualified for the most elite branch of the Army, the Green Berets Special Forces and earned numerous awards including: The Bronze Star Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, Purple Heart, Sharpshooter Badge, and the Air Medal.

After his discharge from the military he enrolled in Virginia Tech, earning a bachelor's degree in Aerospace and Oceanographic Engineering and worked at Pax River Naval Air Station for 42 years. John was a member of the Fleet Reserve Association Branch 93. He married his loving wife, Kathleen Renee Cecil on November 23, 1988 in Leonardtown, MD. They spent 30 wonderful years together.

John is survived by his wife, Kathleen; children, Matthew Smith (Brigitte), of Milford, MI, Terri Kelleher (Donal), of Galway, Ireland, Lt. Cody Smith (Shaine), of Newport, RI, Garrett Smith, of Lexington Park, MD, and Carson Smith (Nick Minucci), of California, MD; sister, Tracy Hatfield (Ed), of Augusta, GA, and 11 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Andrew Rice Smith.

Family will receive friends on Wednesday, June 26, 2019 from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m., at Brinsfield Funeral Home, 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650. Interment will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675-9917.