Walter Allen Smithwick~ Age 89 passed away on September 8.  Walt was born on August 31, 1928 in Camden, South Carolina to the late Joel A. and Marie Littlejohn Smithwick.  He was a 1945 graduate of Chester High School in Chester, South Carolina and a 1949 graduate of Clemson University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Dairy.  The military life beckoned and he joined the United States Air Force.  Major Smithwick served his country as a flight instructor at Williams Air Force Base, Arizona and Craig Air Force Base, Alabama and as a fighter pilot during the Vietnam War.  Retiring after twenty years of active duty, he returned to his beloved South Carolina, making his home in Florence, where he worked as the Veterans Representative with the State Employment Service.  He was an active member of Ebenezer Baptist Church.  He served on several church committees as well as being a devoted Sunday school teacher and deacon.  His many hobbies included woodworking, photography and travel.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Joyce Harris Smithwick, in 1976 and his second wife, Faye Herring Smithwick, in 2004, a brother, Myron A. Smithwick,  and a sister, Frieda Smithwick McKay.
His is survived by his daughter, Beth (Bill) Maxwell of Williamsburg, Virginia, sons, Jonathan (Nancy) Smithwick of Cypress Texas, Steve (Joy) Herring of Roanoke, Virginia and Bill (Julie) Herring of Charleston , South Carolina, 12 Grandchildren,  7 Great-Grandchildren, a brother, Jim (Louise) Smithwick of Irmo, South Carolina, sisters, Marie Parker of Fayetteville, North Carolina and Jane (Hershel) Shohan of Amherst, Massachusetts and caring friends, Max and Maree Gardner of Florence, South Carolina.
A memorial service will be held at a later date with burial in Florence.

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