Lawrence Neal Smith's Obituary
Lawrence Neal Smith, 69, passed away in Honolulu on November 7, 2020. Born to Ralph and Dorothy Smith in South Carolina on November 10, 1951, Larry, or “Smitty” to his friends, was a gentle and kind soul who will always be remembered for his giving nature.
Larry grew up in Illinois, where he became a lifelong Chicago sports fan. He enlisted in the US Air Force in 1971, and served three tours in Vietnam. While stationed in Thailand, he earned a black belt and became an instructor in Tae Kwon Do. After retiring as a sergeant, Larry moved to be with his family in Honolulu, where he joined the Hawaii Air National Guard. He obtained an AA degree in sheet metal from Honolulu Community College and then went on to work for 15+ years at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard as a sheetmetal mechanic in Shop 17. He also worked part-time as a truck driver and later as a dispatcher at the Honolulu Advertiser for 32 years.
Preceded in death by his son, Kapena Smith, and brother, Louie Smith, Larry is survived by sister Luraine Hausherr, nephews Logan and Lucas Hausherr, niece Danielle Mather, stepdaughter Lori Richards, and stepson Lawrence Esperanza, along with many extended family
members.
A private service and internment was held at Punchbowl National Cemetery on December 10,2020. A virtual celebration of life to include a replay of the service is planned for February 28,2021. Please contact Lucas at [email protected] for details.
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