Keith Branson Smith

Keith Branson Smith of Smyrna, age 91 passed away on November 2, 2024.  

Keith was born and raised on a farm in Greene County Georgia, in the Liberty Church community.  His parents were Joe Branson Smith, and Hallie Turner Smith who left us in 1967 and 1984.  He is survived by his wife Margie (Winslett) Smith, son: Dane Smith (TinaMarie) Fountainville, PA, daughter: Denise Smith Dupuy, Smyrna Ga, grandchildren: Brandi Smith Fox (Charlie) Salt Lake City UT, Kaitlin Dupuy MacGillivray (Scott) Woodstock GA, Branson Dupuy Fort Worth TX.  Keith had one sister, Miriam Smith McKinley-deceased, but is survived by his brother-in-law, Thomas W. McKinley.

Keith graduated high school in Greensboro, GA, then attended Emory University in Oxford, GA.  From there he went to the University of Georgia and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture.  He returned to school about 25 years later to earn his MBA from Georgia State University.

Keith married Margie Winslett in a ceremony at Martha Brown United Methodist Church in Atlanta in December of 1955 so they were together for almost 69 years.  At the time, Keith was a non-commissioned officer in the US Navy, assigned to the USS Massey (DD-778), stationed in Norfolk, VA.  During his time in service from 1954 to 1958, Keith made multiple trips across the Atlantic as far north as Iceland and in the middle east in places like Pakistan.  He was very proud of his time aboard the ship and had many stories he liked to tell.  It was his time in the navy that started his career path in electronics engineering.

After the Navy, Keith took a job with General Electric at Redstone Arsenal, which moved his family to Decatur, AL.  A few years later he accepted a job with Lockheed Martin in Marietta, GA and bought his first home in Smyrna.  Keith spent the rest of his career working on iconic airplanes like the C-130 Hercules, and C-5A Galaxy.  He retired from Lockheed in 1996.

Keith was a brilliant man, kind and friendly to all he encountered, never meeting a stranger.  He loved to tell his life stories, would share his knowledge about many topics, shared plants, flowers, vegetables from his garden, honey from his bees, or bags of blueberries.  To this day – there are numerous family and friends that tell us about the flowering plant or bush or fruit tree that Keith gave them many years ago that they still have in their yard.  Keith was a devoted family man always putting his wife and family first.  His grandchildren were his greatest love.  We will treasure forever all our fun memories and the loving legacy he leaves behind.

Funeral Services will be at Liberty United Methodist Church, 3091 Liberty Church Road, White Plains, GA  30678 on Thursday, November 7, 2024 with Rev. Chris Huskins officiating.  There will be a viewing starting at 10:30, church service at 11:30, graveside to follow and food will be served by the family and church community afterwards in the community center. 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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