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<em>Roy Orval Smith, Jr., </em>was bom in Lake Forest, Illinois, on 17 December 1917, the son of Dr. and Mrs. Roy O. Smith. The family moved to Rifle, Colorado, at his early age. There he attended local schools graduating from high school in the class of 1935.</div>
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After attending New Mexico Military Institute at Roswell, New Mexico, for two years, he was appointed to the United States Military Academy by Representative Taylor of Colorado.</div>
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Following graduation in 1942 he entered the Air Corps and received his wings at Roswell, New Mexico. Flying the Lightning P-38, he was assigned to the 364th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force as a flight leader. He flew in the European Theatre of Operations based in England. While on a combat mission he was shot down over Holland in March 1944 and held as a prisoner of war in Stalag Luft I, Barth, Germany.</div>
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Upon his return to the States in 1945 he was awarded the Air Medal with oak leaf cluster, and named adjutant of the 94th Fighter Squadron at March Field, flying FSO’s.</div>
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In 1948, Major Smith was selected by the Air Force for advanced study at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York. Two years later he received both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in mechanical engineering and was chosen as a member of Sigma Xi, an honorary fraternity in engineering. He also attended the Air Command and Staff College and the Air Force Institute of Technology School of Systems and Logistics at Ohio State University.</div>
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After a four year tour at the Pentagon, he served as Assistant Air Attache in Ankara, Turkey (1957-1959).</div>
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He was then stationed in Los Angeles with the Space and Missile Systems Office.</div>
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On 1 October 1968, Colonel Smith was decorated with the Legion of Merit during his retirement ceremony. He was the Deputy Director of Special Projects in the United States Air Force Satellite Program. As project engineer, he was cited for his superior leadership, technical competence and managerial skills, which contributed to the development, testing and in-orbit success of important space programs.</div>
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Roy also received the Air Force Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf clusters for meritorious service while Deputy Director of the Agena B Office. After retirement he was employed as a senior staff engineer at Hughes Aircraft, El Segundo, California.</div>
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In his quiet and unassuming way you could feel the strong thrust of Roy’s integrity which demanded honesty, loyalty and honor. His foundations were solid, built on the values that make for goodness and love. He could always be depended upon, willing to carry the heaviest load, yet never complaining about his problems or his personal discomforts. He was deeply sensitive to life and everything about him. He loved his family dearly, desiring the best for each one, gently guiding them with a love and wisdom that left deep imprints of respect and adoration. Many saw him as a great craftsman, a man who loved to tinker and to work with his hands; and one who took personal pride in doing his own maintenance, especially on his 1959 Mercedes.</div>
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Colonel Smith is survived by his wife, the former Jean Winkelmeyer, now Mrs. Robert W. Leu, Peoria, Illinois; four daughters; Mrs. Sally Cane, Mrs. Victoria Nelson, Mrs. Patty Rye, Miss Pamela Smith; granddaughter, Juliette Cane; grandsons:<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Michael Cane, Timothy and Abraham Rye; sister: Mrs. Eleanor Rees; nephews: David and Dean Rees.</div>
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<em>-Jean W. Leu</em></div>