Wallace Donald Smith's Obituary
Wallace Donald Smith, affectionately known by friends and family as Pop-Pop, died of natural causes on May 10, 2022 at Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Florida at the age of 79. Before his recent health challenges, Wallace was strong, steady and active. He was born April 13, 1943 in Jacksonville, Florida, the son of Lonnie and Pauline (Hopson) Smith, as the second oldest of nine siblings.
Wallace was raised on his family’s farm in Hamilton County, Florida, where he graduated from Jennings High School class of 1960. He later attended Santa Fe College where he earned his AA degree. As a young man working on the North Florida highway system expansion, Wallace met his future wife, Danette Dykes. They made their lifelong home in Micanopy, Florida, where they raised their family. Wallace was a man of strong Christian faith and he remained a widower after his wife’s death in 1994. He worked hard for 30 years as a construction superintendent with Charles R. Perry Construction and then an additional 10 years in construction management. Throughout his retirement Wallace enjoyed woodworking and, what he called, “piddling around” in his shop. Pop was at his happiest outdoors: caring for the yard of his Micanopy home, out in the woods hunting deer, in a blind calling wild turkeys or on the water fishing or gigging.
In addition to his wife and parents, Wallace was predeceased by his brothers, Robert and Rodney. Surviving are Wallace’s daughter, LaTerrsa Scott, and her husband, Winfield, and his son, Donn Smith-Lopez, and his husband, Melvin. The joy of Wallace’s life that always put a smile on his face and the beat in his heart were his grandkids: Sarah, her husband Chris, Devin and Alyssa. Also surviving are his siblings: Edward, Evelyn Vlasak, Gloria Crampton, Kay Allen, Paul and Charles as well as many nieces and nephews. The extended Smith family remains close through beloved family traditions like the annual “cane grinding” syrup making weekend.
Visitation with family and friends will be held 5:00-7:00 pm on Friday May 27th at Williams Thomas Funeral Home, 404 N Main Street, in Gainesville. Wallace’s Celebration of Life will occur 11:00 am-2:00 pm on Saturday May 28th at Little Orange Creek Nature Park, 24115 SE Hawthorne Road, in Hawthorne. Come share some stories with us in remembrance of our Pop!
In lieu of flowers, those who wish to remember Wallace in a special way are invited to make gifts in his memory to the National Wild Turkey Federation Gator Gobblers’ youth outreach program at this link: Wallace Smith Gator Gobbler Youth Outreach Memorial Fund https://checkout.square.site/merchant/MLH6SVR78N88F/checkout/URPIHGVOSXFMNGNCPDNFXAJ5
We will have another angel watching down on us and will cherish the memories we had with our Pop-Pop.
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