Walter Ray Smith

Walter Ray Smith, loving husband and father, age 89, of Jacksonville, Ark., passed peacefully into eternity in his home on Tuesday, December 15, 2020. He was born in Telephone, Texas, on December 28, 1930, to Jeff Henderson and Ruby Faye Smith. On October 25 of 1952, he married the love of his life, Joan Rose Saraceni in Steelton, Pa. They shared 68 years of marriage. Walter served in the Air Force for 27 years. While serving, he attained his Aeronautical Engineering degree and is an alumni of University of Oklahoma (OU). He served during the Korean War and Cuban Missile Crisis. Walter was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, two Air Force Commendation Medals and various other awards and decorations recognizing his outstanding military service. He retired from the Air Force as a Major in 1976 in Jacksonville, Ark. He enjoyed discussions with his children and grandchildren, playing sudoku, as well as being an avid hunter and is a member of the National Rifle Association. Walter was preceded in death by his parents, Jeff and Ruby Smith; siblings, Wanetta, Dorothy, Wesley, Delburt, Winnifred, and Weldon; as well as a son, Steven Thomas Smith. He is survived by his wife Joan; children, Debbie (Terence) Curtin of San Antonio, Texas, Carmella (Donald) Fiser of Fort Smith, Ark., Walter (Debbie) Smith of Sherwood, Ark., and Tess Smith of Sherwood, Ark.; grandchildren, Nikki (Bryant) Sharp of Cabot, Ark., Carmella (Michael) McCroskey of Houston, Texas, Walter Ray Smith III of Sherwood, Ark., Brooks (Hannah) Fiser of Greenwood, Ark., Audra Smith of Jacksonville, Ark., and Larisa Curtin of San Antonio, Texas; great-grandchildren, Taylor Cox, Jordan Weeks, Kadie Sharp, Tristan Sharp, Everly Fiser, and Sawyer Fiser. Visitation will be Friday December 18, 2020, at Moore's Jacksonville Funeral Home. Funeral services will be 10 a.m., Saturday, December 19, 2020, at St. Jude's Catholic Church with Father Martin Siebold officiating. Interment and graveside services will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Park. Arrangements by Moore's Jacksonville Funeral Home, 501-982-2136. Masks required for all events.