William "Bernie" Smith

William “Bernie” Smith, 88, passed away in Orange Park, FL on November 25, 2023. He was born on October 30, 1935 to the late Florine Thomas Smith and Harold Lamar Smith in Redbud, Georgia. Bernie was preceded in death by his brother, Harold Lamar Smith. He is survived by his wife, Millie Smith; son, David (Samantha) and grandchildren, Dylan and Kaitlyn. Bernie graduated from Tifton High in 1953 in Tifton Georgia. After two terms at Georgia Tech, he received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy and graduated in 1958. He enrolled in the Navy Pilot Training Program and received his Navy Wings in 1958. He met the love of his life, Millie Enzor while at the Training Command. They were married in Pensacola, FL on December 20, 1959. While in the Navy, he traveled around the world, stops included: Brunswick, Me., Monterey, Ca., Annapolis. Ma., Naples, Italy, Patuxent River, Md., Newport, R.I., Washington, DC, Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. Bernie retired from the Navy in 1978 and had resided in Orange Park, FL since. He worked as a Math Instructor at FSCJ for many years and as a Tax Preparer at H & R Block. The family will receive friends at 10:00am on Thursday, November 30, 2023 at First Baptist Church Orange Park and funeral services with military honors will begin at 11:00am. The burial will take place the following day, Friday, December 1, 2023 at 10:00am at Jacksonville National Cemetery. Pastor David Tarkington will be officiating both services. In lieu of flowers a memorial contribution can be made to The Wounded Warrior Project https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/