Obituary of Franklin Fletcher Smith, III
Franklin Fletcher Smith, III, 88, of Irmo, passed away Saturday, October 06, 2018. A graveside service will be held Monday, October 8, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. at the Gazebo in Woodridge Memorial Park. A visitation will be held one hour prior, from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m., at the Gazebo. Burial will follow the service in the Cemetery. Woodridge Memorial Park and Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Franklin Fletcher Smith, III was born April 8, 1930, in Salisbury, NC. He was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Fletcher Smith, Jr. He was also predeceased by former wife, Carey Moore Smith and step-son Bill Dorton.
He was survived by his wife of 32 years, Dorothy D. Smith; son, Franklin F. "Butch" Smith, IV (Jenni); daughter, Kelly S. Griffin (Larry); brother, Fielding Scarborough (Betty); daughter-in-law, Susan Dorton; step-children; Virginia Harley (David) and Alex Steele (Tonya); three grandsons; Kyle Smith (Anna), Kevin Smith (Anna), Jordan Sellers; five step-grandchildren; Chad Dorton, Patrick Griffin (Kaitlyn), Emerson Harley and Grant and Austin Steele; great-grandchildren; Lindsey, Maddux and Emma.
"Boofie", as he was called by some, graduated from Oakridge Military Institute, then Statesville Senior High School, and later attended Mitchell College before enlisting in the US Air Force. While in the Air Force, he was stationed at North Truro Air Station as a Radar Operator.
After his discharge from the Air Force, he became a Game Warden in Washington, NC. When he returned to Statesville, he spent time working for Scarborough Chevrolet, which his step-father owned, and the local funeral home. He was even called on to transport patients across NC, for emergency surgery from time to time.
Later he began working at Gaither Sheet Metal as a design fabricator where he fine- tuned his metal working skills. Opportunity knocked again in the late 60’s when he made the decision to move his family to Irmo, SC, to use his “gift of gab” skills and go on the road as an outside salesman with WW Grainger, Inc.
After retiring from Grainger, he began using his many skills to help anyone that needed help. He was a member of Riverland Hills Baptist church and belonged to the Friendship Sunday School Class. Frank was a long-time volunteer fireman for the Irmo Fire Department.
Frank always made people smile - always had a joke to tell - loved to play pranks on people - some of Butch and Kelly's funniest childhood memories are being told ghost stories by their daddy, who of course, had rigged items in the room to move on their own.
He will always be remembered by those who were fortunate to know him for his quick wit and easy smile.
He will be forever missed.
