1943 – 2024
Two years past, on Monday August 19, 2024 Daniel Eugene Smith, III, 81, died at Winchester (VA) Medical Center following a long decline. Born at House of Mercy hospital in Pittsfield Massachusetts January 5, 1943 to Daniel E. Smith, Jr. and Barbara Lois Lacatell, Dan grew up on the south side of Pontoosuc Lake. Attending public schools, he graduated from Pittsfield High School in 1960. A farmer at heart, Dan enjoyed working for local neighborhood dairy farms during his school years. He later became co-proprietor of D & D (later D & E) Atlantic on upper North Street where he indulged his other main vocation as the garage’s mechanic. Dan also cooked in the kitchens of the Sugar Bowl, Breezy Knoll Resort, and the Mass Pike Howard Johnson’s. A veteran of the United States Air Force, he served briefly with the Air Police before transferring to the motor pool and completing a tour in Vietnam.
While in the service Dan married his high school sweetheart, the late Nancy Hamilton Gray. They settled in Harper’s Ferry WV while he was one-fifth employee-owner of a foreign auto repair garage in DC. Moving further into West Virginia they raised their three children with a rural lifestyle in Kirby. Following Dan’s love of farm life, they surrounded themselves with a variety of animals including horses and a mule. Dan opened a repair shop to serve the needs of the townsfolk and local farmers, served at the local stock auctions, and did various construction work including building a cottage for his mother-in-law.
As the family dispersed, Dan settled in Baker WV where he raised sheep while continuing his work in auto and farm equipment repair. In later years, he developed an interest in sailing. He proudly created a photo journal documenting a trip with his friend Tilton down the Intercostal Waterway to Florida.
Daniel is survived by his longtime partner, Laura M. White; his three children: Daniel E. Smith IV (Suzanne) of Eagle River AK, Jessica C. Smith of Albuquerque NM, and Aleida M. Smith-Roloff (Ben) of Cape Fair MO; three grandchildren: Conner D. Smith, Alexandra M. Smith, and Nicholas W. Shifflett; four brothers: David L. Smith of Brookline NH, Gordon C. Smith (Roberta) of Pittsfield, Glenn F. Smith (Diana) of Merrimac MA, and Steven E. Smith of Stephentown NY.
