Name: Col Lon H Smith
Birth: 7 Jun 1907
Death: 5 May 1987
Printed in the Houston Times Post dated May 13 1987
Ret. Col. Lon H (Pinkie) Smith, age 79, of Anniston, Alabama, formerly of Houston, died Tuesday, May 5 at Beckwood Manor Nursing Home. Funeral services were held Thursday, May 7 at First United Methodist Church in Anniston with the Rev. Bobby Green officiating. Private graveside rites were Friday, May 8 at Houston Cemetery.
A former Fort McClellan commander and infantry officer, Col. Smith retired from the Army in July 1962 after nearly 30 years of active duty. He was commander at Fort McClellan from 1958 to 1962. Born in Houston, Mississippi in 1907, he graduated from the U S Military Academy in 1928.
For the last nine years of his Army career, Col. Smith served as the office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as commanding officer of the 32nd Infantry Regiment in Korea, as assistant chief of staff in the headquarters of the U S Army in the Far East and Eighth Army, and as the Army member of the Senior Team, Joint Strategic Plans Group.
During World War II, Col. Smith served in the China-Berma-India Theater. He also saw action in Africa, Sicily and Italy. In 1945 he was assigned to the China Theater Headquarters and later joined the military advisory group in the Chinese Nationalist Army. After his return to the United States in 1947, he served at Fort Benning, Georgia and with the Personnel Division of the Army General Staff.
Following his retirement, Col. Smith became the public relations officers at the First National Bank. He served as the Anniston Rotary Club President in 1963 and was active in the Boy Scouts and the Anniston Quarterback Club.
Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Carrie "Bess" Smith of Anniston, Alabama; two daughters, Mrs. Donald R Spivey of Virginia and Mrs. Richard Stephans of New Mexico; one brother, E Byron Smith of Mississippi; five grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Gray Brown Service Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.
