Obituary of Arnold J. Smith

Mr. Arnold J. Smith, age 87, of Gloversville, died Sunday morning, September 27, 2009 at Nathan Littauer Hospital, Gloversville. He had resided at the Fulton County Residential Health Care Facility for the last seven months of a long period of declining health. He was born on April 23, 1922 at home on East Eighth Avenue in Gloversville, the son of the late Willard and Etta Ortell Smith. He graduated from Gloversville High School and Cornell University. He later served in the US Army Air Corps during World War II and was stationed in England where he met his wife Dorothy. He was a B17 pilot and flew many successful missions over Germany. Following the war he was personal pilot to General McNarney in the European Theater, flying the General around Europe and North Africa. Arnold joined his father, Willard, in the operation of Robison & Smith and he became President of the company following his father's death. He retired in 1998. He was a member of North Main St. United Methodist Church. He was Past President of the Eccentric Club, the Mayfield Yacht Club and the New York State Laundry Association. Arnold loved to fish in many parts of the globe and he and Dorothy traveled far and wide. He especially enjoyed many years of visiting his favorite spot in Aruba, and had a love of gourmet cooking. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Allan Smith; a son, Richard C. Smith; a sister, Elsie Unger; a grandson, Matthew Smith and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by another sister, Lucy Trombley. The family will receive relatives and friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Walrath & Stewart Funeral Home, 51 Fremont St; Gloversville, where a funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday with the Rev. Christopher Hamm officiating. Cremation will follow at Park View Crematorium, Schenectady, with final interment at Ferndale Cemetery, Johnstown. Memorial contributions may be made in lieu of flowers to the Nathan Littauer Foundation, 99 E. State St; Gloversville, NY 12078.