Julius (Smitty) Nash Smith

Julius Nash Smith Jr. (Smitty) died peacefully Friday July 21th 2017 at 97 years old. He was best known for his sense of humor and his big heart. He loved spending time with his family and friends and his girlfriend Ms. Freddie Renfro. He was a loving father, grandfather and uncle and will be forever missed by the people who loved him. He was a longtime member of West Haven Presbyterian Church a member of Civitans, was an avid fisherman and loved golfing and croquet in his younger years. He always had a soft spot in his heart for animals and had the fattest squirrels in his neighborhood because he fed them so well. "Smitty" proudly served during WWII with the 137th Signal Radio Intelligence Company at the Battle of the Bulge and 3 other major campaigns. He was a quiet hero, in the front lines intercepting German messages and relaying German positions back to headquarters helping keep troops safe. He still remembered the Morse Code even at 97. He is preceded in death by his wife of 70 years Elizabeth Gervin Smith, his mother Catherine Vandeventer Smith, and his father Julius Nash Smith Sr., sisters Margaret Wolfe, Hester Davis, and Helen Weaver, brother William Smith, his grandson Tim Whitaker and great granddaughter Chloe Shiverdecker. He is survived by his loving daughters Marty Thurman and Pam Whitaker, and sons-in-law Jim Whitaker and Dan Thurman and his "adopted" daughters Melissa Benson, Judy Valentine, and Julie Locke. He had a special place in his heart for his grandchildren Kristi Shiverdecker (husband Kent Shiverdecker), Rebecca Clemons and Lucas Whitaker (wife Lola Wallace) and his great grandchildren Angela Wood, Brianna Clemons, Maddy Whitaker and little John Whitaker (mother Madison Whitaker) and "adopted" granddaughter Charlie Rigdon. A special thank you to Rev. Tim Turley who spent hours in conversation with him and was one of his closest friends and his nephew Tony Newman and wife Janie who traveled long distances and whose visits made him feel especially loved. Special thank you to all his friends at Broadway Towers. In lieu of flowers, please follow his example and "pay it forward" by helping someone along the way as he often did. He will be sorely missed. Friends may call at their convenience Monday, July 24, 2017, 1:00p.m.-4:30p.m. at Mynatt Funeral Home Fountain City Chapel. Family and friends will meet 9:15a.m. Tuesday, July 25, 2017 at Woodhaven Cemetery for 11:00a.m. graveside service. Please leave online condolences to www.mynattfh.com