Joseph Francis Smith

Joseph Francis Smith passed away on May 22, 2016, at the age of 85. He was born on July 30, 1930 to Joseph and Geraldine Smith in Evanston, Illinois.

Joe enlisted in the Navy briefly before attending the US Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT. Upon graduation in 1956, he was stationed in Hawaii where he met the love of his life, Shirley Marina Weaver. They were married in 1957 after “multiple” proposals and were happily married for 54 years until Shirley passed away in 2012 – an event that left him with a sadness that lingered for his remaining days.

Captain Joseph Smith had a fierce love of the sea and spent over 10 years of his career on the ocean during his 30 years of service. While in the Coast Guard, he circumnavigated the globe as the Commanding Officer of the Polar Star, earned the Bronze Star with Valor for his service in Vietnam, and is a distinguished member on the Wall of Honor at the Coast Guard Academy.

Joe is survived by his four sons and daughter’s in law: Michael and Christy of Lynnwood, Washington; Kevin and Natalie of Snoqualmie, Washington; Patrick and Kimberly of Friendswood, Texas; Timothy and Courtney of Sammamish, Washington; nieces Patrice Stocker and Michelle Jamann of Nazareth, Pennsylvania; and ten wonderful grandchildren: Erin, Charlie, Ike, Sarah, Adam, Matthew, Caleb, Camryn, Casey and Cooper.

Funeral Mass will be held at St. Monica Parish, Mercer Island on Thursday, June 2, 2016 at 11:00 am. Burial with full military honors will be on Friday June 3rd, 2016 at 12:30 pm at Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, WA. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes for donation to be made in Joe’s name to the US Coast Guard Academy, or the charity of your choice in his memory.

He will be missed dearly, but he is in a happier place as he is finally reunited with his treasured wife, Shirley.