Arthur Smith

Arthur R. Smith, Jr. passed away on January 25, at age 81 in Gloucester, Virginia, at Walter Reed Convalescent Center. Art had spent the last 6 years there following a stroke. While he could not communicate well, the nurses, residents and visitors that he bonded and became family with, wept and hugged him when he departed.

Originally from Buffalo, NY, he treasured his family and friends more than anything and fell in love with sailing and being on the water. After residing in Tampa, FL for several years in the 1990’s, Art, with wife Carol, retired to Deltaville, fulfilling his dream of parking their boats alongside the house for frequent sails and entertainment, and to be near lifelong friends.

Art’s career began in the banking and then the tire industry, as a national credit manager, and national sales manager. He loved to travel, both on business and with family, as he and Carol visited a host of beautiful destinations across the globe. They also put in a lot of time driving up and down the East Coast, visiting the families of their 3 children and 6 grandchildren.

Settling in Deltaville, Art became passionate in his engagements with the Church of the Visitation, becoming a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus. In this role, he enjoyed dedicating time to the Church Building project, Hands Across Middlesex and several service missions in the community and abroad.

He is survived by Carol Ann, his wife of 57 years; sons Arthur III (Jittaun), Kevin (Heather) and daughter Sandra; grandchildren Evan, Aidan, Cameron and Hadley Smith, and Corey and Cassidy Bush; brother Thomas (Bernadette); sister Virginia (husband Alfred) Talke; a dozen sisters- and brothers in-law, and a bevy of adoring nieces and nephews.

According to his children, “In everything he did, he was vibrant, charismatic, fearless, authentic and forthright. He taught us to work hard, to live with integrity, to forgive, to be accepting of diversity, to show respect and to be humble.”

A wake is being held on Wednesday, January 30 at Bristow Faulkner Funeral Home in Saluda, VA from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 31 at the Church of the Visitation, 8462 General Puller Hwy., Topping, VA. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Art's memory may be made to the Church of the Visitation Building Fund or Hands Across Middlesex. Arrangements by Faulkner Funeral Homes, Bristow-Faulkner Chapel, Saluda.