Tuesday, April 11, 2023
Dr. Gloria “Bonnie” Smith
Dr. Gloria Bonnie Smith, a retired teacher, departed this world on March 11, 2023 surrounded by her loving family. She was born on January 25, 1945, in New Orleans, Louisiana, the daughter of Ada Robertson and George Bonabus Shepherd. She graduated from All Saints Episcopal High School in Vicksburg, Mississippi and went on to continue her education at Louisiana State University (LSU) where she met and fell in eternal love with her future husband Harry Winfield Smith from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. They wed in New Orleans on August 17, 1963 and began their lives together in Baton Rouge. She put her educational pursuits on hold to begin raising a family and traveling with her Air Force Officer husband to different locations for training in Texas, California and finally Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Their final on earth good-bye to each other was in May 1969 when Harry went to fight for his country in Vietnam. On November 11, 1969, his F-4 Phantom fighter jet was shot down over Laos and he was declared Killed In Action by the US Government on January 25, 1972, the same day as her 27th birthday. He left behind her and their four young children. She never remarried. Through that tragedy she picked back up her educational pursuits a few years later and earned her bachelor and master’s degrees from what was then the University of West Florida and her Ph.D. in Education from Florida State University. She worked as a Special Education Teacher at Lewis Middle School in Valparaiso Florida from 1980 to 2012. She was extremely involved with the Teacher Unions, NEA, AFT, FEA, OCEA and served many years on the local and state level executive & legislative committees. Bonnie (as she went by) was continually active with various groups around Ft. Walton Beach including Red Hats, Elks Lodge, VFW, Gold Star Wives, Retired Officers Wives Club, ADK and Golf & Bowling groups. She was a treasure for many friends and family members and never forgot to send a card or present for birthdays or other holidays. Her great joy in life was her family. She spent her retirement years enthusiastically supporting her grandchildren in their various endeavors. Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents, Ada and George Shepherd, husband, Harry W. Smith, son Harry W. Smith II, and granddaughter Blair Spears. She is survived by three children, Gloria Thompson (Graham), Diane Smith, and Tommy Smith (Tina), daughter in law Melissa Smith, eleven grandchildren Jamie Spears, Brandon Spears, Shane Spears, Kaitlin Burnett, Elaina Cason, Winn Smith, Rebecca Duckworth, Samantha Smith, Heather Jones, Tyler Beaux Smith and Juliana Smith, and seven great grandchildren. Relatives and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life in Ft. Walton Beach on Sunday, April 16, 2023, from 3:00PM – 6:00PM at the Elks Lodge on Okaloosa Island. Her remains will be interred at the Louisiana National Cemetery in Zacharay Louisiana where her name will be listed alongside that of Major Harry W. Smith. There will be a brief ceremony at 1:00 PM on Friday, April 28, at the Baton Rouge National Cemetery located at 220 N. 19th Street where there is a headstone for her beloved husband in the memorial section. She will be greatly missed by her loving family and will forever be in their hearts. The family is sincerely grateful to the many friends & family members who have given us support and comfort during this time of loss.
