Family will receive friends on Thursday, December 7, 2023 at Mt Herman Missionary Baptist, 2283 Sunbury Road, Columbus, OH 43219

5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Visitation 

6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Masonic Service

7:30 p.m. Celebration of Life

Interment; Friday, December 8, 2023 at Dayton National Cemetery. Family will leave from White's Funeral and Cremation Services at 9:00 a.m.

George Smith, age 85, was born in Mobile Alabama to Leslie Dixson Smith and William Lee Smith. He completed his life journey on Saturday, November 18, 2023. George attended The Heart of Mary High School where he played football, basketball and was a drum major. George enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in July 1955 at the age of 17 as a survival career move and to serve his country. George loved being an Air Force Crew Chief in which some of his responsibilities included, flying missions over Vietnam, air refueling planes, and was involved in The Bay of Pigs. While he was stationed at Pease Air Force Base in Portsmouth NH, he was a member of the New Hampshire Baseball Umpires Association. George was reassigned to Rickenbacker Air Force base and retired after 20 years of service on July 1, 1975.

George had a great business mind and created a business which included a Service station, was a supervisor at Cooper Jarret, was on the maintenance staff at UPS as well as working as a Proctor within the Columbus City School system as a Proctor for proficiency testing. George began working at General Electric in 1978 where he was part of the manufacturing of synthetic diamonds where he received the “Manufacturing Team of the Year Award”. He retired after 20 years of service on June 1, 1998.

George was an all-around guy. He loved being involved in all sports in many capacities which include Air Force football player and an official, coaching basketball at Pease Air Force Base, an avid golfer whenever he had a free moment, a boxer while in Yokota Japan, refereeing soccer in New Hampshire. He was also a member of the Bid Whist Association and enjoyed playing Pinochle. He was a Past President of Columbus Ohio Retired Armed Forces Association (RAFA).

George joined the Prince Hall Free and Accepted Masons in 1977 when he was raised as a Master Mason. He became a Past Master of King David Lodge No. 116 (Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of OH). George was selected as Grand Marshal where he served for 25 years and subsequently was elevated to the office of Past Grand Master. He is a Past High Priest of John C. Logan No. 53 (R.A.M.) where he achieved the office of Most Excellent Grand High Priest of Royal Arch Masons Prince Hall Affiliation of Ohio and subsequently, became the General Grand Conference Grand High Priest, which is a very prestigious office. George was a 33rd Degree Mason and Past Commander-In-Chief of L. D. Easton Consistory No 21 (Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Prince Hall Affiliation) and served as its Treasurer for more than 20 years. George was an active member of Alla Baba Temple No. 53 (Shriners) and attained the title of Honorary Past Imperial Potentate after serving many years as the Events Coordinator for the Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Inc. Prince Hall Affiliated. George was a Past Patron of Grace Chapter #100 (Amaranth Grand Chapter Order of the Eastern Star Prince Hall Affiliation State of Ohio) where he served eight years. George loved the Prince Hall Masonic Order, and he remained very active until the time of his passing. George was loved by many and will be missed in our beloved Masonic Order.

Even with all that George was doing, his focus remained to be the love of his life, his wife of 49 years, Rosa Smith. They loved visiting family and friends and watching western movies together. George was preceded in death by his parents; 7 siblings – Helen Agee, (twins) Cliff and Clyde Smith, Lillian Smith, Virgil Smith, Frank Smith and Nathaniel Smith; 4 children – Juanita Smith-Colman, George Smith Jr., Kenneth Smith and Dwayne Smith. George leaves to celebrate his life 2 Siblings, Reuben Smith and Lorrain Clemmons; 2 Children, Patricia (Clarence) Prosise and Ronnie (Sheila) Fleming; A host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great great-grandchildren other family and friends.