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In Memory of
James Francis
Smith
Smith
1931 - 2015
Memorial Candle Tribute From
M.B. Kilmer Funeral Home
"We are honored to provide this Book of Memories to the family."
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Obituary for James Francis Smith
South Glens Falls
James (Jim) F. Smith, Jr., passed away on October 8, 2015 at home after a short illness. He was 83.
Jim was born November 10, 1931, in Jersey City, NJ, the son of the late James F. and Loretta Smith. Jim grew up in Lyndhurst, NJ. He graduated from Lyndhurst High School in 1949 where he played football. He was an avid bodybuilder winning the Mr. Passaic-Clifton YMCA of 1950 and was a runner-up in the 1951 Mr. New Jersey competition.
After high school, Jim was drafted into the US Army to serve in the Korean War. Jim served in the 45th Infantry Division, the Thunderbirds, from 1952 – 1954. Jim quickly rose in rank to Staff Sergeant; he earned the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the National Defense Medal, the Korean Service Medal, UN Korean Service Medal and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal. Returning from the war Jim used his GI-Bill to earn his Bachelor’s degree at Farleigh Dickinson University in Fairlawn, NJ. While attending Farleigh Dickson, Jim coached football at Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey, NJ. He was also a member of the Alpine Ski Club of New Jersey.
For nearly 30 years, Jim worked as a Manager and Certified Life Underwriter at the Accident & Health Division of Continental Insurance. He moved the family to South Glens Falls in 1971 and spent most of his career in Glens Falls. Jim was an active outdoorsman, he enjoyed the Adirondacks where he boated and served on the Hickory Ski Center, Ski Patrol in Warrensburg, NY.
Jim enjoyed his retirement; he spent time with his family, and he enjoyed skiing, bicycling and reading. He was a life-long Giants fan; he had season tickets for 50 years. He enjoyed traveling with his wife, they travelled the world; skied in the Italian Alps, cruised to many locations and regularly travelled to visit their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was proud of his Irish heritage and made several trips to Ireland, and obtained his Irish citizenship. When the Double H Ranch opened, Jim volunteered in the Adaptive Winter Sports Program where he served in various capacities; ski instructor, ski repairman and finally, as a photographer, volunteering for 17 years. He truly enjoyed photography and sharing his pictures.
Survivors include his beloved wife of almost 50 years, Carole Smith of South Glens Falls; his 3 sons and their wives, Michael and Karin Smith of Colorado Springs, CO, Patrick Smith and Amber ChangSmith of Palo Alto, CA, and Kevin Smith and Trina Realmuto of Brookline, MA; his 8 grandchildren, Chrystina Crown, Jessica, Shane, Cody Crown, Masha, Yegor, Trinity, Ella; and his 2 great-grandchildren, Ava and Samuel. He is also survived by his brother-in-law and his wife, Richard and Christine Davis, and their two children, Colleen and Richard; and his cousin and his wife, Jimmy and Patricia McCormick of Mullingar, Ireland, and their three children, Mark, Stephen and Sinead and grand-daughter, Caoimhe.
Jim was a member of the VFW and Korean War Veterans Association.
Friends may call from 2 to 4pm and 6 to 8pm on Monday October 12, 2015 at the M.B. Kilmer Funeral Home 136 Main Street, South Glens Falls, NY 12803. To view James Book of Memories or post online condolences please visit www.kilmerfuneralhome.com.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11am on Tuesday October 13, 2015 at St. Michael’s Church, 80 Saratoga Ave, South Glens Falls, NY 12803.
The rite of committal with military honors will be at 1:00pm on Friday, November 27, 2015 at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, Schuylerville.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Jim’s name to Double H Ranch, 97 Hidden Valley Road, Lake Luzerne, NY 12846 or to a charity of one’s choice.
James (Jim) F. Smith, Jr., passed away on October 8, 2015 at home after a short illness. He was 83.
Jim was born November 10, 1931, in Jersey City, NJ, the son of the late James F. and Loretta Smith. Jim grew up in Lyndhurst, NJ. He graduated from Lyndhurst High School in 1949 where he played football. He was an avid bodybuilder winning the Mr. Passaic-Clifton YMCA of 1950 and was a runner-up in the 1951 Mr. New Jersey competition.
After high school, Jim was drafted into the US Army to serve in the Korean War. Jim served in the 45th Infantry Division, the Thunderbirds, from 1952 – 1954. Jim quickly rose in rank to Staff Sergeant; he earned the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the National Defense Medal, the Korean Service Medal, UN Korean Service Medal and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal. Returning from the war Jim used his GI-Bill to earn his Bachelor’s degree at Farleigh Dickinson University in Fairlawn, NJ. While attending Farleigh Dickson, Jim coached football at Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey, NJ. He was also a member of the Alpine Ski Club of New Jersey.
For nearly 30 years, Jim worked as a Manager and Certified Life Underwriter at the Accident & Health Division of Continental Insurance. He moved the family to South Glens Falls in 1971 and spent most of his career in Glens Falls. Jim was an active outdoorsman, he enjoyed the Adirondacks where he boated and served on the Hickory Ski Center, Ski Patrol in Warrensburg, NY.
Jim enjoyed his retirement; he spent time with his family, and he enjoyed skiing, bicycling and reading. He was a life-long Giants fan; he had season tickets for 50 years. He enjoyed traveling with his wife, they travelled the world; skied in the Italian Alps, cruised to many locations and regularly travelled to visit their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was proud of his Irish heritage and made several trips to Ireland, and obtained his Irish citizenship. When the Double H Ranch opened, Jim volunteered in the Adaptive Winter Sports Program where he served in various capacities; ski instructor, ski repairman and finally, as a photographer, volunteering for 17 years. He truly enjoyed photography and sharing his pictures.
Survivors include his beloved wife of almost 50 years, Carole Smith of South Glens Falls; his 3 sons and their wives, Michael and Karin Smith of Colorado Springs, CO, Patrick Smith and Amber ChangSmith of Palo Alto, CA, and Kevin Smith and Trina Realmuto of Brookline, MA; his 8 grandchildren, Chrystina Crown, Jessica, Shane, Cody Crown, Masha, Yegor, Trinity, Ella; and his 2 great-grandchildren, Ava and Samuel. He is also survived by his brother-in-law and his wife, Richard and Christine Davis, and their two children, Colleen and Richard; and his cousin and his wife, Jimmy and Patricia McCormick of Mullingar, Ireland, and their three children, Mark, Stephen and Sinead and grand-daughter, Caoimhe.
Jim was a member of the VFW and Korean War Veterans Association.
Friends may call from 2 to 4pm and 6 to 8pm on Monday October 12, 2015 at the M.B. Kilmer Funeral Home 136 Main Street, South Glens Falls, NY 12803. To view James Book of Memories or post online condolences please visit www.kilmerfuneralhome.com.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11am on Tuesday October 13, 2015 at St. Michael’s Church, 80 Saratoga Ave, South Glens Falls, NY 12803.
The rite of committal with military honors will be at 1:00pm on Friday, November 27, 2015 at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, Schuylerville.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Jim’s name to Double H Ranch, 97 Hidden Valley Road, Lake Luzerne, NY 12846 or to a charity of one’s choice.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of James Francis Smith, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.
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