Cover photo for Leonard Smith's Obituary
Leonard Smith Profile Photo
1920 Leonard 2020

Leonard Smith

September 19, 1920 — March 18, 2020

Naples, Florida formerly of Clyde

Naples, Florida formerly of Clyde- Leonard Claude Smith, 99, passed away on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at Arbor Glenn at Arbor Trace Nursing Facility in Naples, Florida.

Leonard was born September 19, 1920 in Macon County, North Carolina to Robert Vinson Smith and Fannie Sanders Smith.  He was one of four children:  Lewis and Lawrence Smith and Pauline Scroggs.  He graduated from Clyde High School in 1938.  Leonard loved the mountains of North Carolina and especially his home on Haynes Hill that has been in his family since 1922.

Leonard served in the North Carolina National Guard until his unit was activated during World War II.  In 1943, he joined the Army Air Corp (US Air Force) and was a pilot with the Eighth Air Force flying B17’s over Europe.  On July 16, 1944, he was shot down over Germany and was in a German POW camp until June 1945.  Leonard was awarded the Purple Heart and Air Medal.

Upon returning to the United States after the war, Leonard met the love of his life and wife of 53 years, Aileen Smathers.  They were married in Canton on June 21, 1946 and had two children, Leonard, Jr. and Barbara.  In 1949, Leonard began a career with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as an air traffic controller in Greensboro.  He retired in 1980 and he and Aileen moved to Port Charlotte, Florida.

Leonard is survived by his son, Leonard, Jr. (Mary Helen) of Wilmington; one daughter, Barbara Smith Wilkinson of Naples, Florida; grandchildren, Melissa Bur (Cameron) of Crozet, Virginia, Scott Smith of Charlottesville, Virginia, Ryan Smith (Kathryn) of Clyde and Evan Smith of Raleigh; great-grandchildren, Kathryn and Jack Burr and Elsie Smith; nieces and nephews, Lois Morgan of Candler, Maxine Rogers (Michael) of Hilton Head, South Carolina, Terry Scroggs (Becky) of Sanford, Florida, Earl Morgan of Cape Coral, Florida and Kay Morgan Combs of Bonita Springs, Florida.

Burial services were held on March 22, 2020 at Bon-A-Venture Cemetery in Clyde.  A celebration of his life will be held in the Clyde area later in the year.

Leonard was very pleased to complete one last mission in November 2019 when he went on an Honor Flight to Washington, DC.  He was given the honor of participating in the hanging of the wreath ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked to honor Leonard by making donations in his name to the Lee Collier Honor Flight at www.collierhonorflight.org.

The care of has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Homes and an online memorial register is available at “Obituaries” at www.wellsfuneralhome.com

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Leonard Smith, please visit our flower store.

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