Douglas Nicol Smith

DOUGLAS NICOL SMITH, age 90, of Little Rock, died Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011. He was born in Minneapolis, Minn. to the late Malcolm David and Isabelle Van Gieson Smith. Doug attended schools in Little Rock, North Little and high school in Los Angeles before enlisting in the Army Air Corp, October, 1942 as a private. He was accepted for Air Cadets graduating from Ellington Field, Houston, Texas, receiving his pilot's wings and rank of 2nd Lt. He was assigned to the 15th Air Force, at Foggia, Italy where he flew a B-17, 36 Sorties, (51 missions) over Europe . He was promoted to 1st Lt. and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross on one mission. After the war Doug graduated from the University of Arkansas Fayetteville in 1950, receiving his degree in business administration. He spent many years in sales managements with Meyer's Bakery in Little Rock, Memphis, Tenn. and Waterloo, Iowa. He was also manager of Meyer's potato plants in Little Rock, Memphis and Oklahoma City, retiring from the company in 1985. He is survived by his wife Ruby Strauss McCaskill Smith of Little Rock; her three sons and one daughter, Bruce Thalheimer and wife Barbara, Lee Thalheimer and wife Libby, Ross McCaskill and wife Sheila; one daughter Lesli McCaskill, and five grandchildren. Doug was predeceased by his second wife Marjorie Rainwater Smith, in November 1997, and survived by two sons; Griff Keyes and wife Kenan, Cloud Keyes and wife Nancy; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He is also predeceased by his first wife, Madelyn Boulware Smith a marriage of 50 years before her death in November of 1991, and a brother Malcolm G. Smith and wife Patsy of Atwater, Calif. There will a visitation Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Ruebel Funeral Home followed Wednesday with a funeral service at 11 a.m. at Second Presbyterian Church officiated by Reverend Karen Akin. Burial will take place that afternoon at 3 p.m. at the Mausoleum of Memorial Park, Memphis, Tenn. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home. www.ruebelfuneralhome.com. Memorials in lieu of flowers may be made to Second Presbyterian Church, 600 Pleasant Valley Drive, Little Rock, AR 72227, Arkansas Hospice, Pulmonary Fibrosis 1659 Branham Lane Suite F, No. 227, San Jose, Calif. 95118-2291. or any other organization of your choice.