Enid, OK — The funeral for David Pirtle Smith, 88, of Enid will be 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 23, 2009, at Anderson-Burris Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Kenneth Wade will officiate. Full military honors will be by the Silver Talon Honor Guard of Vance Air Force Base. At his request, his remains will be repatriated to the U.S.S. Utah, now located beneath the waters of Pearl Harbor. Visitation with the family will be Sunday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
He was born Feb. 23, 1921, in Vanoss to Percy Gill and Katie Maude Latimer Smith and died Nov. 18, 2009, in Enid. He grew up in Enid, Norman, Kendrick, Cushing, Sparks, Hillsdale and Skedee. In 1938 he graduated from Skedee High School and enlisted in the Navy Sept. 9, 1939. He was assigned to the U.S.S. Utah Nov. 8, 1939, as an apprentice seaman. He then was assigned the position of electrician mate third class and sailed to Pearl Harbor. After the Utah was attacked and sunk, he was reassigned to the U.S.S. Honolulu and spent the next two and one half years in the Pacific theater, where he received three battle stars.
He married LeLoris Gertrude Waters in October 1942. He was assigned to the U.S.S. Inch, where he was promoted to chief petty officer. He transferred to the Air Force and worked in the B-36 program at Carswell Air Force Base, Fort Worth, Texas. He transferred to Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, where he was part of the 5th Fighter Squadron. He retired from the Air Force in 1962 as a senior master sergeant and moved to Sioux Falls, S.D. He worked as an airplane mechanic for 19 years and purchased his own shop, Sioux Air Repair. In 1981 he sold the shop and worked in the plant engineering department at McKennan Hospital, retiring in 1992. In 2002 he returned to Enid.
Survivors include his wife, of the home; three children, David Mike Smith, Patricia C. Ward, both of Enid and Dayna Smith Cary of Fairfax, W.V.; five grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made through the funeral home to Disabled American Veterans. Condolences may be made online at www.andersonburris.com.
