Woodruff Smith, Jr.

Woodruff Smith, Jr. of Kingston, R.I., age 92 passed away at his home on April 26, 2018, with his daughter at his side and under the care of Hope Hospice. Born in Montclair, New Jersey, to Woodruff and Emily Herr Smith, Woody lived and worked in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Connecticut before moving to Kingston in 2014, to live with his daughter, Claudia. A veteran of WWII, Woody served in the United States Navy, 1944-1946 on the USS Elokomin (AO-55) Cimarron class fleet oiler. Honorably discharged, he wore his Ruptured Duck pin proudly on his cap. Woody graduated from Television Directors School in New York City. He worked in the television industry for his entire career, spending thirty-two years at WTNH in New Haven. An avid reader and lover of the sea, he enjoyed fishing and boating. Woody held a membership to Mystic Seaport for many years, closely following the restoration of the Morgan. An antique browser, he and Claudia would spend hours combing the local shops for treasures. He was a volunteer fireman at Mt. Carmel, Company 5 in Hamden, CT, serving as Trustee. The loving community at First Congregational Church of Wallingford was his home away from home. He worked with the men on Monday morning, serving as a Trustee, Deacon, and helping at a variety of annual events. Woody is survived by a son, Dean Smith of Branford, Connecticut; a daughter, Jen Kimball of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; a daughter, Claudia Smith of Kingston, Rhode Island; loving nieces and nephews, step children, grandchildren, and many wonderful friends. He was predeceased by his second wife, Vera Murenia Smith; his first wife Edna Ackerman Smith; his sister, Kathryn Smith Richtmyre; and his son John Richard Smith. A memorial service will be held at First Congregational Church, 23 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492, June 30, 2018, at 11:00 A.M. In lieu of flowers please send contributions to the Mystic Seaport, 75 Greenmanville Ave., Mystic, CT 06355; or the First Congregational Church of Wallingford, CT.