Harold Griffin Smith's Obituary
Harold Griffin Smith was born August 5, 1937, in Greenville, N.C. and passed away peacefully on June 28, 2023, surrounded by family. He was the son of Marvin Wesley and Julia Griffin Smith. Harold grew up in a small farming community in rural North Carolina and spent his summers working on the family farm, where he developed a sense of perseverance and a strong work ethic. Harold graduated from Chicod School in 1955 and attended East Carolina University in Greenville where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree. In school, Harold was known by his classmates as a good-natured prankster and an avid athlete, lettering in football, basketball, and baseball. After graduation from college, he became a high school teacher and coach, then enlisted in the Army Reserve, which took him to Louisiana and Texas and initiated his love of travel. After some time, he returned to Charlotte, N.C. where he began a successful career in the banking automation and financial services industry. In Charlotte, he met and married his first wife, Janet with whom he shared a daughter, Julia Elizabeth. Upon relocating to Dallas, they became involved in the community and were actively engaged as members of St. Barnabas Presbyterian Church, where Harold was an elder.
Later, he met and married Diane D’Agostino Smith, with whom he shared a love of travel and spent his retirement years. As a lifelong athlete, Harold enjoyed coaching his daughter’s sports teams and was an avid runner and played softball and pick-up basketball. He was fond of the arts and was a season ticket holder to the Dallas Theater Center for many years.
Harold will be remembered for his dedication to work and family, and for his sense of humor. Harold was preceded in death by his parents, Marvin Wesley and Julia Griffin Smith, his wife, Diane D’Agostino Smith, and his brother, Philip Wesley Smith. He is survived by his daughter, Julia Elizabeth Smith and her husband, Ryan Clark, sister, Betsy Elks and her husband, Billy, and a number of nieces and nephews. A private burial and memorial service will be held by the family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org or St. Barnabas Presbyterian Church at SaintB.org.
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