Smith Jr., Wesley A.
Wesley A. “Wes” Smith Jr., 74 of Somers, beloved husband of Marilyn (Doyon) Smith for 54 years, passed away at home surrounded by his loving family after a courageous battle with Glioblastoma Brain Cancer on Saturday, September 18, 2021.
The son of the late Wesley and Helen (Quinlan) Smith, Wes was the oldest of seven children and a role model for his brothers and sisters throughout their life. Raised in Enfield and a graduate of Enfield High School, he resided with his family in Hebron, CT where he worked for the Southern New England Telephone Company before changing careers and relocating to Fort Wayne, IN. Eventually he settled in Somers where together with Marilyn he raised their sons as a devoted father and immersed himself in the community for 30 years. Wes was an active volunteer in the Town serving as President of the Somers Rotary Club and the recipient of the prestigious Paul Harris Award, Treasurer of the Northern CT Land Trust and a member of the Somers Republican Town Committee.
Wes was a proud patriot who served his country honorably in the MA Army Reserves, followed by the CT Air National Guard at Bradley Field in the Intelligence Division for 20 years.he attended Embry-riddle
Aeronautical University and was employed for 34 years at Utflight in Fort Wayne, IN, East Hartford and Bradley Field, CT bases. He held many positions including Supervisory Captain for the Citation and Gulf Stream, and Manager of Safety and International Operations. As a jet and helicopter pilot he served as Captain on the King Air, Citation, Saberliner, Hawker 1000, Gulfstream IV, Falcon 7X, S76 A B, and C+.
Passionate about his career he enjoyed a close working relationship with his crew and the wonderful people in the company.when he wasn't traveling the world,
he was a hunter, avid birder and hiker, bicyclist and enjoyed fishing at Chamberlain Lake in Woodstock, CT where he shared wonderful memories with his loving family and grandchildren.
In addition to his wife Marilyn, he is survived by two sons, Brian Smith and his wife Rachel of Somers and Kevin Smith of Asheville, NC, six siblings, Eileen Babcock and her husband Bernard of Corpus Christie, Tx,martin Smith and his wife Cathi of Somers, Marianne Drake and her husband Frederick of Chesterfield, MA, Patricia Kibbe, Ellen Smith and her partner Steven Hubbard of Enfield, Patrick Smith and his wife Lori of Enfield, three grandchildren, Beckett, Sullivan and Brodie Smith, his mother-in-law, Mary Ruth Doyon of Somers and many nieces and nephews.he was pre-deceased by his special brother-in-law Roger Kibbe.
Visitation hours will be held from 4-7 p.m., Thursday Sept. 23, 2021 at Somers Funeral Home, 354 Main St. (Rte. 190) in Somers. The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, September 24, 2021 with an hour of visitation prior, from 9-10 at Somers Funeral Home. Committal with military honors will be held at Somers Center Cemetery. Donations in Wes' memory may be made to the Somers Rotary Club Charitable Fund, PO Box 2, Somers, CT 06071. Funds will be used for scholarships. To leave online condolences, please visit www.
Somersfuneralhome.com