Donald Smith
Donald Walker "Hoot" Smith passed away April 1, 2020 in Kingman, Arizona.
He was a pharmacist for over 60 years, a 1950 graduate of Central High School and a 1956 graduate of Southern College of Pharmacy with honors - leading the class. He and brother John owned Smith Brothers Pharmacy in Ridgedale, a neighborhood drug store that saw six pharmacists come from the Ridgedale community. Owner Hoyt Matthews helped and encouraged all six boys to enter and complete the courses to become pharmacists.
Don was one of two (brother John) and Betty's brother, Arthur Wallace. Don was an active hunter and shooter most of his life - hunting in Wyoming and Canada. He was a life member of NRA Skeet and Trap Association and a former president of the Chattanooga Big Game Hunting Club. He was an airplane pilot for 50 plus years.
As a youngster he was in the Boy Scouts and the Sea Scouts under Bob Elmore, the Sea Scoutmaster. He ran many foot races locally and out-of-town including mini-triathlons.
He was in the 181st Field Artillery National Guard until he was admitted to pharmacy school. Don was a member of the Big Brother Association for five years, and a 30-year member of the Civil Air Patrol, reaching the rank of Major and flying many missions for down or lost aircraft.
He was a member of Delashmitt Road Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife, Betty Wallace Smith; son, Terry Smith, and daughters, Cindy Gentry; grandchildren Taylor Smith, Alan Smith, Zach Smith, Benjamin Smith and Matthew Gentry, and several great-grandchildren.