Lester Cecil Smith

Lester Cecil Smith “Les” passed away on April 17, 2024 in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. He was born on September 19, 1940 in Des Moines, Iowa to Lester Wilbert and Beatrice Cecil Smith. He graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering in 1962 and from the University of Utah with an MBA in 1971. Les married Jean L. Fluharty “Jeanie” on June 25, 1966, having met her on a blind date in Fort Walton Beach, Florida; where she was teaching at the local junior college, now Northwest Florida State College. After Les spent the first year of their marriage in Vietnam, they were stationed at Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany, where their daughter, Tracy, was born. They also have a son, Eric, and three grandchildren, Tarin, Taylor, and Tanner, by Tracy and a granddaughter, Isla, by Eric.

Les began his Air Force career in 1962 and served twenty-four years until his retirement from the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1986. Les had a distinguished Air Force career, rising to the rank of Colonel and being awarded numerous medals. These included the Defense Superior Service Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Air Medal with a silver Oak Leaf Cluster.  His assignments included flying as Master Navigator in Special Operations MC-130s all over the world, including a combat tour in Vietnam and flying in Iran on the Desert One mission.  While in the Air Force, he also had several staff and engineering assignments, including managing the development of the engine for the A-10 aircraft. After retiring from the United States Air Force, he was employed by Lockheed as a Senior Staff System Engineer working on space programs. His Lockheed career ended with a three-year assignment to England (North Yorkshire).  Les and Jean saw much of England before Les retired from Lockheed at the end of 2006.  After remodeling their Florida house in Bluewater Bay, they spent much time traveling to locations in Europe, South America, the Galapagos, Turkey, China, Tibet, Africa, and North America, including Alaska.  Les enjoyed an active life skiing, biking, and hiking both in Florida and at the places they visited. This year, Les and Jean celebrated almost fifty-eight years of marriage.

A memorial service will be held at The Chapel of 30A, 61 Topsail Village Road, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida on Thursday, May 9, 2024 at 3:00 p.m., with the family receiving friends one hour prior to the service. A committal service, with full military honors, will be held at Barrancas National Cemetery, NAS, Pensacola, Florida on Friday, May 10, 2024 at 11:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Parkinson’s Foundation or the Dementia Society, in Les’ memory.