Col. Smith, Jr.

Colonel Odie Smith, Jr., USAF, Ret., age 90, died in Gulfport, MS on May 5, 2018. He was a Veteran of World War II, Korea, and the Vietnam War.
Colonel Smith was born on March 4, 1928 in Conasauga, TN, to Odie and Luna Smith.  He entered the U.S. Army Air Corps in January 1946. He served thirty-one years in the U.S. Air Force as an enlisted member and as an officer.  After a highly distinguished career, he retired in 1976 from Keesler AFB, MS. Colonel Smith was a graduate of University of Southern Mississippi.  He married Mildred LaFontaine of Bay St. Louis, MS in 1949. He is survived by his brother, Ted Smith, and sister, Faye Smith Overby, both of Kingsport, TN; daughters, Sharon Edmondson and Sandra Madaris, his son-in-law, Jim Madaris; his three grandchildren, Sabrina Edmondson, Samantha Edmondson and Millie Madaris; and his four great-grandchildren, Cole, Niah, Oliver and Cari. He is preceded in death by his wife, Mildred, and his daughter, Suzanne.
He was an active member of St. James Catholic Church, Gulfport, MS.  He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Retired Officers Association.
Visitation will take place at St. James Catholic Church, 366 Cowan Road, Gulfport, on Wednesday, May 9, 2018, from 10 - 11 am.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 am in the church with the burial immediately following in the Biloxi National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to be sent to the American Heart Association and the Wounded Warriors Foundation.
The RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 11280 Three Rivers Road, Gulfport, is serving the family and an online guestbook may be signed and condolences offered at www.riemannfamily.com