Funeral Mass: 5:00 p.m., Thursday, June 15, 2017
Location: Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church
Visitation: One hour prior to the Mass
Johnny B. Smith II (John) lost his battle with cancer on Sunday, June 11, 2017, while in the loving care of Intrepid Hospice with his wife and children at his side. John’s courageous battle fighting cancer spanned twenty years. He was born on July 13, 1947 in Midlothian, Virginia, but grew up in the Shenandoah Valley.
After graduating from Huguenot High School, he entered the Navy, where he served a year on independent duty on ocean auxiliary tugboats and two years in Holy Loche, Scotland prior to retiring at the Naval Station, Norfolk, Virginia. After retiring from the Navy, John attended Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. While attending Virginia Commonwealth University, he met his wife, Diane. John’s entire working career was in the insurance industry. He began his career as a Marketing Representative for a large insurance company before becoming an Independent Insurance Agent and eventually owning his own business, John Smith Insurance Agency, Inc. During his insurance career, John was awarded the designation of Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU). John became an instructor of almost all of the CPCU courses; a grader of the CPCU nationally administered exams; and served as President and Vice President of the Tidewater Chapter of CPCU.
John was a life member of Delta Sigma Pi, a professional business fraternity; a graduate of the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce/Christopher Newport College Leadership Institute (1984); and served as Vice President and Board Member of Peninsula Community Theater for six years. Life-long learning was a constant endeavor of John’s. He became a Master Gardener; a collector of non-fiction books on just about every topic imaginable, which he eagerly shared with his friends; a Board member of Friends of the Library, and an outreach instructor for Jamestown – Yorktown Foundation. John was very honored to be a member of the Virginia delegation representing the 200th anniversary of Jamestown, as they traveled to cities along the coast, arriving in New York City for their 4th of July celebration, encouraging attendance at the upcoming anniversary celebration. John’s greatest achievement, however, was his devotion to his children and his pride in their accomplishments. John delighted in attending middle school dances, dance recitals, high school theater, as well as band performances both at football games and competitions. He was a leader in Boy Scouts, Troop 6, and achieved the Order of the Arrow.
John is survived by his wife and best friend, Diane; his daughter, Elizabeth and her husband, Jeff Lee; and his son, Michael and his wife, Alicia Smith. He is also blessed by six grandchildren: Samantha, Jonathan and Ryan Lee and Olivia, Madelyn and Nora Smith. John is also survived by a sister, Karen Renner, of Richmond, Virginia and a special cousin, Zelma Brumfield of Wayne, West Virginia. On June 1, 2017, John was very excited to be welcomed into the Roman Catholic Community through Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.
A Funeral Mass will be conducted at 5:00 on Thursday, June 15, 2017 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, with Visitation one hour prior to the Mass. In memory of John, memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 52 Harpersville Road, Newport News, VA 23601. Arrangements are by Weymouth Funeral Home.