Walter A. Smith Jr.

Walter Armour Smith Jr., 93, died peacefully on January 31, 2016, in Louisville, Ky. He was born October 29, 1922, to Walter Armour and Mary Etta Cummings Smith. Walter was preceded in death by his dearly loved wife, Helen W. Smith, and is survived by his brother, John Terry Smith (Margaret) of Louisville, Ky., his sister, JoAnn Fleming, of Hendersonville, Tenn., and a swarm of adoring nieces and nephews (including great and great-great) and cousins in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Texas, North Carolina, Virgina and Indiana.

Walter was an accountant with the Fort Knox school system for 30 years and during that time made many a slippery drive down a snowy Dixie Highway in his Volkswagen bug. He enjoyed a good road trip almost anywhere, made countless journeys across the U.S. and into Canada with his wife and a cadre of friends, and always returned with stories, slides, and gifts.

An artist at his core, Walter painted, whittled, and carved both serious and whimsical pieces that never seemed quite good enough to him but were (and are) cherished by those who experienced them. He was an artist in the kitchen, as well, where he stirred up delightful concoctions, and in the garden.

Walter and Helen were the second family to move to The Forum at Brookside in 1984 and Walter was the longest living member of that community. As such, he was known as the Mayor, and was humbled to have the Walter Smith Spirit of Life Award given to a Forum community member in his honor beginning in 2012. He deeply loved and appreciated his Forum friends, most of whom he hosted on his garden-edged carport-turned-porch.

Walter was proud to recently have become a Son of the American Revolution. He was a decades-long member of Bethany United Methodist Church, and later attended Hurstbourne Baptist and Middletown United Methodist. He was a supporter of the Farnsley-Moremen Landing—where he played as a child—and participated in an oral history club there that focused on Kosmosdale—where he grew up.

A dapper dresser with hand-carved walking stick and tam, he was the essential Southern gentleman. He enjoyed coffee with his friends at McDonald's, drives through the countryside, singing in the choir, and sitting around a table after a meal long enough to warrant a later snack. He was quick to laugh, an animated storyteller, a connoisseur of interesting people, and a man who valued people far, far more than things.

Walter's family wishes to thank the superlative nursing team in the Transitional Care Unit at Norton St. Matthews for their truly extraordinary care.

A memorial service will be held Friday at the Pavilion at The Forum at Brookside (Shelbyville Road) at 7:30 p.m. with an hour of visitation previous.

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