George Edward Smith, Jr., of Altamonte Springs, Florida, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 22, 2023 after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. His loving wife and family were by his side. He was 76 years old.
George was born on January 12, 1947 in Rawlings, Virginia. He was the son of now deceased parents George Edward Smith and Mattie Rivers Smith, and youngest brother to sisters Faye Williams and Audrey Crittenden. He attended the University of Richmond and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Physics. He was in the Air National Guard, where he discovered a love for computers and programming. This passion turned into a successful career in software development and entrepreneurship. His work was groundbreaking in the software development industry.
George met Wanda Gail Lowe- the love of his life- in Richmond, Virginia and the two were married on November 10, 1974. From the time that they met, the two of them were inseparable…best friends in every sense of the word. Everyone who met them knew that they were deeply in love. They loved to travel, taking trips to Europe, Alaska, Mexico, the Panama Canal, and several of the Caribbean islands during their life together. The couple also worked together, building several successful companies together over the years. One of their favorite things to do was to spend time with family and fellowship together with God as members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church.
George’s pride and joy came in the form of his three children- Sarah, Melissa, and Austin. In 1996, the family moved to Orlando, Florida and has lived in Altamonte Springs since 2009. Over the years, the family grew bigger with the addition of two “sons-in-love”- Frank and Nevin; one “daughter-in-love”, Courtnie; and five beautiful grandchildren- Madison, Emily, Logan, Noah, and Carter. “Poppy”, as George lovingly came to be known, loved his grandchildren immensely and did everything he could to spend as much time with them as possible. There was nothing more important to George than his family. His legacy will live on through them…and his memory will never be forgotten, as he meant so much to anyone who had the privilege of meeting him.
George is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Wanda Lowe; his two daughters, Sarah Philip (husband, Frank Philip) and Melissa Wherrell (husband Nevin Wherrell); his son, Austin Smith (wife Courtnie Smith); Grandchildren, Madison Philip (20), Emily Philip (17), Logan Wherrell (16), Noah Philip (15), and Carter Smith (9).