Obituary of Larry Smith

Larry Dale Smith died on the 10th of August 2023. He was born June 1st, 1943 the son of Gordon and Bessie Smith. He graduated from Wellsboro Charleston High School, class of 1961. A few weeks after graduation, Larry and two of his friends decided it would be a great adventure to join the United States Air Force, so they enlisted. By age 20, Larry was a certified enlisted aircrew member (Load Master) on the C-133 aircraft stationed at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. Upon completion of his enlistment, Larry attended Mansfield State Teachers College. After he received his degree, Larry immediately returned to the Air Force, this time for Officer Training School and pilot training. His first assignment out of pilot training was flying the C-7 tactical airlift aircraft in Vietnam. For his service in Vietnam, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and 3 air medals. Following his tour in Vietnam, Larry was stationed at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey where he flew the C-141 transport aircraft. He would later be transferred to Dover Air Force Base where he flew the C-5. After he retired from the Air Force, Larry was able to extend his flying career an additional 20 years, flying corporate jets for the rich and famous. When he finally retired, summers were spent raising purebred Angus cattle on his farm in Mansfield, winters were spent at his ocean front condo in Satellite Beach, Florida. Larry is survived by his wife Yvonne; his daughter Shannon; his sons Ed, Shawn and Dale; his grandchildren Ethan and Emma; and his siblings Ron and Janet.