Lawrence Smih

RODMAN — Memorial services for Lawrence (Larry) Smith 84, of Denver, Colorado, were held on December 16th, 2009.

Larry died suddenly Wednesday Dec 9th at his home. He is survived, by his wife of 60 years, Virginia, two sons and daughter-in-laws, Rodney and Nancy Smith, Crawford, CO, and Del and Elizabeth Smith, Lakewood, CO, a daughter and son-in-law Suzanne and Richard Long, Bergen, NY, ten granddaughters, a sister and her husband Jean and Robert Ertl, Fairfax, VT, sister Joan Loomis, Waddington, NY, and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Larry was born in Rodman on May 22, 1925, the son of Stanley and Vida Smith. He grew up on a small family dairy farm in Honeyville, NY. Upon graduation from Adams Center High School in 1943, he enlisted in the Army. After aircrew training in Nebraska, Larry participated in 35 missions to Japan as top gunner on a B-29 bomber of the 9th Bomb Group, 313th Bombardment wing, 20th Airforce, based on Tinian Island. After the war, Larry received a BS degree from Cornell University in Biology in 1949 and a MS in Wildlife Management and Fishery Biology in 1951. In 1949 he married his high school sweetheart, Virginia McIntosh. Larry began his career with the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) as Refuge Manager of the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge on Cape Cod, MA. Subsequent Refuge Manager assignments included five years at Montezuma NWR, Seneca Falls, NY, and 15 years at Iroquois NWR, Alabama, NY. In 1974 he was assigned to the Albuquerque, NM, Regional Office of Refuges and Wildlife where he served as Migratory Bird Coordinator for the southwestern US. As part of his duties he was appointed to the Whooping Crane Recovery Team and served as Team leader from 1980 through 1987. In 1985 Larry received the Department of Interior Meritorious Service Award, the highest award given in the Department Interior for his service to FWS. In retirement he served as Southwest Representative of the National Wildlife Refuge Association, and President of the Whooping Crane Conservation Association. He also helped organize the 9th Bomb Group Association and served as its historian, and was editor in the production of the 9th Bomb Group History book. Larry enjoyed traveling with his wife during retirement. Destinations included Alaska, South Africa, Kenya, China, New Zealand, and South Korea. One of his lifelong passions was photography. Some of his wildlife photography has been seen in national publications and he often entertained family and friends with movies and slide shows. To his family and friends Larry was a kind and gentle person, always quick to help others. His kids remember a dad who thoroughly enjoyed life, and filled their lives with adventures big and small, and a father who loved and cared for his wife.