Allan Joseph Smith, Jr.

Allan Joseph Smith, Jr.

Allan Joseph Smith, Jr., 79, of Greensboro, GA, died surrounded by his family on March 20, 2015, after an extended battle with dementia. He was born on May 15, 1935, in
Cleveland, Ohio, to the late Allan Joseph Smith and Ann Weber. He married Mary Stuart Palmer Smith in 1962, and they lived in Dunwoody, Georgia for 40 years before moving to Greensboro in 2008.

Allan received a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Fenn College in 1962, and a Master of Engineering degree in Aerospace Engineering from Sacramento State in 1967. His career included assignments with Aerojet General, Georgia Tech, and an 18-year position with MARTA, where he was instrumental in developing its rail line system. He also served as president of the Georgia chapter of Project Management Institute.

Allan imparted his passion for tennis to countless athletes over the course of his life. He retired from MARTA to become a full-time tennis official, serving as referee for many tournaments at the junior, collegiate, adult, and USTA levels, as well as for wheelchair athletes. He was voted USTA Grassroots Tennis Umpire of the Year in 1992. He served as president of the Atlanta Professional Tennis Umpire Association. He held two U.S. patents for tennis court equipment. He also loved to travel, was a lifelong aficionado of music, and enjoyed dancing.

He is survived by his loving and stalwart wife, Mary; daughter Terri Laufer, her husband, Daniel, and their children, Benjamin and Sarah, of Smyrna, GA; son Steve Smith, his wife, Taryl, and their children, Brant and Ian, of Boulder, CO; daughter Carol Colby, her husband, Chris, and their children, Randolph and Dean, of Radford, VA; and son David Smith, his wife, Jill, and their children, Kyle, Rachel and Kevin, of San Antonio, TX. He is also survived by his sister Diane Yagielo and her husband, Steve, as well as his sister Sylvia Leeseberg and her husband, David, all of Greensboro, GA.

A Funeral Mass will be held at Christ Our King and Savior Catholic Church,  6341 Lake Oconee Parkway, Greensboro, GA 30642 at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 25, 2015, with a reception to follow at the church. Father Paul Williams will officiate.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Saint Mary’s Good Samaritan Foundation, 1230 Baxter Street Athens, GA 30606.  McCommons Funeral Home, 109 W. Broad St., Greensboro, GA, (706) 453-2626, is in charge of arrangements. Visit us at www.mccommonsfuneralhome.com to sign the online guest register.
 

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