Larry Sterling Smith

Larry Sterling Smith Pickens, South Carolina Larry Sterling Smith was born 3/30/1941 in Huntsville, Ohio, the oldest of six children of John Sterling Smith and Betty Beryl Nelson Smith. He died 1/31/2023 in the Upstate Community Hospice House in Landrum, South Carolina, with his wife and daughters at bedside. Larry joined the Navy shortly after finishing high school, traveling around the world at least 2 times and spending time in Japan and the fiords of Norway. He always said he joined the Navy because the marine recruiter was out sick. He served loading munitions on aircraft carriers and was assigned to help round up the men on shore leave because he didn't drink and he was a big guy. His most prized item of clothing was a marine "cover" he was given for coming in first at several Marine shooting matches that he continued to be involved in throughout his life. He served on the USS Constellation, and he said the guys on the ship nicknamed her the USS Zippo because they had so many fires. After being honorably discharged from the Navy, he had a career with Bell South as lineman, cable splicer, and toll test board operator, finishing his time indoors “shooting troubles” via computer. Larry learned construction from his Pennsylvania Dutch uncle. He got his license as general contractor, and was the principal builder for two of his houses. His hobbies included woodworking, gardening, watching Westerns, telling tall tales, and building guns (lock, stock and barrel), including muzzleloaders. He was a single shot aficionado who traveled throughout the Eastern US to German Schuetzen rifle matches. He was Schuetzenmeister of the Asheville gun club for some years. Larry was an avid and skilled deer hunter. Having helped raise siblings as the oldest of 6 kids, animals and children always brought out the best in him. Larry was a man who never really dealt with the demons from his early life, and we are grateful to Agape hospice and the Upstate Community Hospice House in Landrum for helping him reach some semblance of peace at the end. He is survived by his beloved wife of almost sixty years, Paula Carden Smith, his daughters Amy Smith & Dana Williams, his siblings Carolyn Anderson, Janice Brannon, Beverly Rice, and Mike Smith, and his grandchildren Christopher Williams (Katheryn), Kaila Williams Brocksmith (David), Aleah Williams, Tiffany Smith Langhorne (Dabney), Colton Smith, Austin Smith, Adam Clark (Katie), and two great grandchildren, Ronan Williams & Anneliese Williams. He was pre-deceased by his parents, his brother Bruce Smith, and a son, Sanford Smith. There will be no public service, but family, friends, and acquaintances are invited to post comments on this page. Mountain View Funeral Home – Pickens Chapel is serving the Smith family.

Larry Sterling Smith

March 30, 1941 - January 31, 2023