Edward Smith

Edward Dwight Smith died on May 25, 2022 at the age of 99. He was born May 1, 1923, in Wake County NC, on a tobacco farm, where he grew up with 6 brothers and 2 sisters - all have preceded him in death. Ed served in the Navy during WWII in both the European and Pacific theaters. As a medic in the 9th Beach Battalion, he landed on Normandy Beach on D-Day, an event that shaped his life forever. He graduated from the University of Tennessee, Memphis, on the GI bill as a pharmacist after the war, where he also met a young nursing student from Mississippi, Doris Blue, who became his wife of 63 years before she preceded him in death in 2014. Ed leaves behind 4 children, Dawn Beatty and husband Robert, Kim Creager, Rory Smith and wife, Lori, and Brett Smith, also 6 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one son, Van Smith. Ed was a well-known pharmacist in Danville, first at the old Peoples Drug Store downtown and then for CVS at Nor-Dan shopping center until retirement; he then continued to work part-time until the age of 85. Ed was an active member and deacon for many years at Rivermont Baptist church and an active member in his WWII Navy reunion group that met every year at different locations all over the United States. His time in the Navy during the war was the source of many stories, including seeing an unforgettable performance of “Oklahoma” in San Francisco with the USO. He loved to tell that story and talk about his favorite song, the one that seemed to define his life – “Oh,what a beautiful morning, Oh, what a beautiful day”. A graveside service will be held at 1 pm on Monday, June 6, 2022 at Danville Memorial Gardens. A celebration of life reception will follow at Stratford House, 1111 Main Street. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to God’s Storehouse. Townes Funeral Home is serving the Smith family.