James Henry Smith Jr.

12/12/2006

James Henry Smith Jr., 80, of 84 Notch Road died Tuesday at the Sweetbrook Care Center in Williamstown. Born in North Adams on Dec. 7, 1926, son of James Henry and Eva Sarah Gauthier Smith, he attended schools in North Adams, including the former Notre Dame Parochial School, and graduated from Drury High School in 1945. He attended the former North Adams State College and later attended Champlain College in Plattsburgh, N.Y. Mr. Smith was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War. He enlisted in the Navy on August 18, 1944, and served as a yeoman second class on the USS Sage. He was honorably discharged on June 8, 1946. Following the outbreak of the Korean conflict, he re-enlisted in the Navy on May 3, 1951, and served until his honorable discharge on Aug. 29, 1952. Mr. Smith was last employed by the General Electric Co. in Pittsfield, working in the laboratory of its power transformer division for 35 years, retiring in 1986. Following his retirement, he served as a consultant to GE. He was first employed by the former Gavaert Film Co. in Williamstown and later worked at the former Sprague Electric Co. He was a communicant of Our Lady of Mercy Church and was a former member of its Parish Council. A member of the Northern Berkshire Retired Men's Club, he participated in its bowling league. He was a former member of the Stanley Club in Pittsfield, the Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers and a former member of the Frank R. Stiles Post 125 American Legion in North Adams. He married his wife, the former Jeannine T. Cote, on Oct. 13, 1956, in Notre Dame Church in North Adams.. Besides his wife, he leaves two sons, Christopher James Smith of North Adams and Stephen R. Smith of Pittsfield; and a granddaughter. FUNERAL NOTICE -- The family of James H. Smith Jr., who died Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2006, will welcome friends to share memories at the family home at 84 Notch Road, North Adams on Friday Dec. 29, from 4 to 7. Burial will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to the Berkshire Humane Society in care of FLYNN & DAGNOLI-MONTAGNA HOME FOR FUNERALS CENTRAL CHAPELS, 74 Marshall St., North Adams, MA 01247, which is in charge of arrangements. Survivors include a daughter-in-law, Donna; a granddaughter, Isabelle Smith of Pittsfield; a niece, Margaret Partrich, and her husband Wesley, of Taylor, Mich.; a nephew, Thomas Byrd of Michigan; and a grandnephew, Jacob Partrich. He was predeceased by a sister, Dorothy M. Byrd.

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