All Obituaries from Wilhelm-Eakin Funeral Home P.A.

Jack Smith

October 26, 1926 — August 24, 2010

Jack Ransom Smith, 83, passed away to his eternal reward on Tuesday, August 24, 2010 . He was the last surviving member of his famil y . Jack was born in Spartanburg , Sout h Carolina on October 26, 1926 to Lonis Durham Sanders and Louis Edward Sanders.

Jack was raised in Palm Beach County Florida and was formally adopted by his stepfather, Ransom Ear l Smith. He served in the Merchant Marine during W.W.II . Jack

moved to southern C alifornia with his family where he worked for Lockheed Aircraft

Corporation. Jack's second step-father, Max Charles Beust and his mother conducted

businesses at South Lake Tahoe and enticed Jack to manage their holdings. After the

accidental death of his brother, Louis Earl Smith, and the demise of his step-father, Jack

and his mother moved back to Spartanburg .

After the death of his mother, Jack wanted to visit Ithaca , New York but got lost on the

Pennsylvania Turnpike and ended up in Grantsville , Maryland . He wrote two published

novels: THE CONTAINER IS READY and THE INTERGALACTIC EXPRESS. Both

of which were inspi r ed by his work at Lockheed. When he moved to Frostburg, he wrote

his autobiography , SMOKEY MOUNTAIN LOVE STORY and another novel based on

Max Beust's journ a ls of the China-Burma Road , THE ODYSSEY OF THE 330TH

COMBAT ENGIN E ERS .

Upon meeting Eileen Stoger, he settled down in Garrett County to help run her ranch.

Jack was revered by all who met him as a "True Southern Gentleman". He helped the

neighborhood ch i ld r en appreciate jazz with his lessons on the drum. While visiting the

schools where Eileen taught , he read to the children, always encouraging them to do their

best and earned the t itle of "Candy Man" by bringing sweet reinforcements to the class.

Jack's cherished friend, Steve Wininger, was the son he never had . Steve's family, Ellen,

Chelsea, Matt and Maddie were such a comfort and help every day but especially during

the challenging ones. Jack looked on the children in the neighborhood as his

grandchildren: Tyle r , Madison and Liam Dolchan, Ryan, Chris and Dylan McCann and

little Claire Rasley. He treasured many happy holidays, birthdays, sports events and

milestones in their l i ves.

One of Jack's recent joys was at the Nava l Academy Chapel where he was Jeffrey (Eileen's son) Winebrenner's Best Man. He added a new daughter - in-law, Joanne T u in , and two new grandchildren , David and Alexandria . to his family. Jack is survived by the love of his life, Eileen Stoger and her family, Linda , Andrew and Daniel Winebrenner of Virginia Beach .

During his illness h e was amazed and thri l led at the many kindnesses, cards, pictures,

v isits, balloons and m eals from the children at Route 40 School, his neighbors and friends

and all whose life h e touched.

According to his wishes, Jack will be cremated . A funeral mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, August 31, 2010 at 11:00 AM at Saint Ann's Church , Grantsville , MD with Father Ed Hendricks, celebrant . Friends are welcomed to attend. Arrangements by the Eichhorn-McKenzie Funeral Home, P.A., Midland (www.eichhornmckenzie.com).

Memorials may be made to Beall Elementary School in Frostburg , MD. A summer celebration of Jack's life will be announced when Jeffrey and his family are stateside in August .

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Jack Smith, please visit our flower store.

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