PORTLAND — Jack Louis Smith Sr. was born on Sept. 20, 1923, in South Freeport, the first son of Charles Louis and Charlotte Ruth (Lavers) Smith. He married Elizabeth Emma Stuhlmueller of Cincinnati, Ohio on April 14, 1944. She predeceased him on April 16, 1997.
He attended grammar school in South Freeport but moved to Portland with his parents in 1939 and graduated from Deering High School, Class of 1941. At Deering High School, he played varsity baseball and football.
After graduation, he worked at the South Portland shipyard as a welder on the Liberty ships being built there. In 1942, he was drafted into the Army Air Force and served primarily as an airplane mechanic. He received an honorable discharge in March 1946, after serving as a corporal with the 1504th Army Air Force Unit.
He attended the University of Cincinnati and then returned to Maine, residing with his growing family, first in Falmouth, then later in Cumberland, Windham and Portland. He and his wife moved to a home on the Saco River in Standish in 1985.
As a young man after returning to Maine, he continued to play semi-pro baseball on local teams. He and his brothers, Dana and Art Smith, were well known for their athletic achievements.
Jack worked for Cushman Bakery as a deliveryman in Portland and Falmouth. Later he sold aluminum windows for Harris Small Company and garden supplies for Stark Nurseries. In his later years, he worked for Avis Car Rental.
A lifelong Roosevelt-Democrat, he volunteered and campaigned countless hours on behalf of state and local political candidates and causes.
In failing health for several years, one of his recent highlights was attending his Deering High School class reunion in 2003.
He leaves six children, Maurie Hill of Standish, Jack L. Smith Jr. of Atlanta, Ga., Melinda Remington of Largo, Fla., Jeffrey Smith of Yarmouth, Jennifer Smith of Hiram and Julie Klehn of Standish; a brother, Arthur of Scarborough; as well as 11 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
A graveside service with military honors was held on Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2010, at the Maine Veterans Cemetery in Augusta. To offer words of condolence to the family, sign a guest book and share memories, go to the obituary page at www.independentdeathcare.com
Arrangements are under the guidance of Independent Death Care, 660 Brighton Avenue, Portland.