Leon Smith
Leon Smith, died on September 25, 2020, peacefully at home with his beloved wife Jean and his stepson, Timothy Dean by his side. Jean and Tim had lovingly taken care of Leon since he was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2012.
Leon was born in 1925 in Chattanooga, to Frances Elizabeth and Henry Leon Smith. After graduating from Chattanooga High School in 1943, he entered the Army Air Force and completed pilot training on the P-61 Black Widow night fighter just as World War II ended. He studied civil engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and remained in Atlanta to work for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers until 1973. In 1975, Leon joined Sherlock, Smith & Adams in Montgomery, Alabama, where he worked as an architect for 14 years. In 1995 he and Jean moved back to the Chattanooga area and settled in Signal Mountain. Leon’s faith in Christ was most clearly expressed through his gift of music. He was a gifted soloist and sang in the Atlanta Symphony Chorus under Robert Shaw, and in the Choral Arts Society of Chattanooga. He was an active choir member and soloist at Second Ponce de Leon Baptist Church, Peachtree Presbyterian Church, and The Temple in midtown Atlanta and served as the Interim Choir Director at Memorial Presbyterian Church in Montgomery, Alabama. Leon was a member of Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church where he sang in the choir alongside his wife, Jean. Leon’s love of aviation continued throughout his life. Having owned a Cessna twin engine plane and enjoying membership in the Experimental Aircraft Association in Montgomery, AL. Leon was known for his humility, integrity, dry wit, and a curious obsession with crossword puzzles and puns.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Norman Smith.
He is survived by wife, “Clarise” Jean Smith, stepchildren, Timothy Dean, Jonathan Dean and Jennifer Dean Predmore, son, Richard Leon Smith, and daughter, Alison Smith Kosnett and her husband Philip Kosnett.
A memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1, in the sanctuary of Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church.
The family invites all to join with us in celebration of a life well lived and praise to our God who is exceedingly good and faithful.
Arrangements are by Lane Funeral Home, 601 Ashland Terrace, Chattanooga, Tn. 37415, 423 877-3524, lanefh.com.