Gilbert "Gil" Greene Smith

Gilbert “Gil” Greene Smith of Tigard, OR, passed away on February 16, 2020 at the age of 88. He was born and raised in Greenville, RI, the youngest son of Frank H. Smith, Sr. and Alzada (Knight) Smith. As the youngest of six Smith brothers who pre-deceased him (Frank, Jr., Albert K., Edwin H., Walter J., and William W.), he lived to be the oldest and was, as he liked to say, the “Last Man Standing.” Gil was a career Air Force veteran serving from 1951 to 1972, retiring as a Tech Sergeant with the 671st Radar Squadron of the 20th Air Division, Aerospace Defense Command in Key West, FL. He traveled to, and resided in, many parts of the world during his years in the service. He was a humble man in all things, including his military service to his country, of which his family and friends are all very proud and grateful. He appreciated the fine arts and enjoyed sculpting, painting and the poetry of Robert Frost; his favorite poem being “Tuft of Flowers.” He loved nature and, as a younger man, enjoyed taking his nieces and nephew out on canoe trips to the waterways of his youth in Greenville, RI and the surrounding area. He had no children of his own but was a very beloved uncle—especially to the children of his brother Walter who are Cynthia E. (Smith) Lambert, Wendy L. Smith-Stenhouse, the late Holly (Smith) Hanson, and Walter A. Smith — always doting on them with the latest video games and absurdly gigantic chocolate Easter baskets and other gifts. Most importantly, he was a loving and forthright man who regarded life with a touch of humor and irony. He will be deeply missed by his family and friends on both the east and west coasts — perhaps, especially so by his loving companion, Carol Barr, with whom he shared a great love that grew between them over the past year containing all the magic of youth but reserving itself for the later, wiser years. Gil made a final gift of his body to the Educational Body Donation program in Oregon.