
Westbrook – Harold A. Smith passed away August 29, 2016 just after reaching his 93rd birthday. Smitty was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Harold P. and Harriet Newcomb Smith, on August 17, 1923, the fourth of eight children. He grew up and att
ended schools in the Mattapan area of Boston. In January 1941 he joined the Navy and served in the South Pacific aboard the USS North Carolina throughout WWII, receiving a Purple Heart for injuries received from a misfiring gun in Turret 1. He re-enlisted during the Korean War, serving aboard the USS Valley Forge.
While the North Carolina was in for repairs in Portland, Maine he met Barbara Mitchell, exchanging letters while overseas and getting married in 1944. They moved to Boston after WWII for a short stay, returning to Portland in 1948. They raised their family in Portland, where Harold worked as a cabinet maker for McDonald’s Lumber & Windham Millwork. He continued his career in the manufactured housing industry with New England Homes and Coastal Structures, eventually retiring from Roberts Office Supply.
He was very proud of his naval service, chronicling those days in a self-published book, Naval Service of Harold A. Smith. He participated in several crew reunions during his retirement making many trips to the North Carolina, now a museum in Wilmington, NC. A particularly proud trip was in 2015 when he traveled to the reunion and was able to share his ship with his great grandson.
Harold was active in Babe Ruth Baseball at the local, state, regional and national levels. He also loved hosting lobster feasts for family and Babe Ruth friends, becoming quite the sight with his chef hat and apron as he steamed lobsters and sipped on his scotch.
Harold was predeceased by his parents, sisters Florence Durbin, Helen Natale, Dorothy Dunne; brothers Joseph and Robert; his second wife, Roberta Melendy Smith and his son, James H. Smith.
He is survived by his brother Edward and wife Joan, California; his sister Ruth Peterson, New York; his children Tom and wife Lisa Cormier-Smith, Casco; Peter and his partner Gloria Charles, Utah; Betty Caton and husband Don, Portland; daughter-in-law, Joanne Kozlowski Smith; his grandchildren Matt and wife Kimberly Smith, Gorham; Trista Smith and partner, Craig Wilcox, Casco; Todd Smith and wife Ashley, Westbrook; Joel Smith, Utah, Luke Smith, California, Mike Caton and wife, Elizabeth, Boston; Sarah Caton and husband Eric Davidson, San Francisco; and Katie Caton, Portland. Great grandchildren Keegan Wilcox and Elle Davidson. He is also survived by his first wife and friend, Barbara Mitchell Smith as well as several nieces and nephews.
There will a graveside service on Saturday, September 3, 2016 at 11:00 am at Scarborough Memorial Cemetery, Old Blue Point Rd, Scarborough, ME.
Smitty’s family wishes to thank the staff and nurses at Avita of Stroudwater for their care and compassion over the last few months, particularly in these last two weeks.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Harold’s memory to:
Friends of the Battleship North Carolina
Generations Campaign
Battleship NORTH CAROLINA
PO Box 480
Wilmington, NC 28402.