Dr. Russell P. Smith, Jr

Russell P. Smith, Jr., DDS, 93, of Cambridge passed away on Monday, December 16, 2013 at UMSMC at Easton. He was born in Cambridge on May 1, 1920 and was a son of the late Russell P. Smith, Sr. and Leila Brannock Smith.

Dr. Smith graduated from Cambridge High School class of 1937, where he was class president. From 1937 to 1939 he was a pre dental student at Western Maryland College and in 1943, he graduated from Baltimore College of Dental Surgery- University of Maryland where he was a member of Psi Omega fraternity. Dr. Smith was a Dental Officer in the U.S. Army from 1942 until 1946 and was honorably discharged at the rank of Major.

On April 14, 1943, he married the former Betty LeCompte, who passed away on May 27, 2009.

Dr. Smith practiced dentistry in Cambridge from 1945 to 1985 and at the Eastern Shore Hospital Center from 1984 to 1993. Through the dental associations, he was a life member of University of Maryland Dental Alumna, Eastern Shore Dental Society where he served as president, secretary and treasurer, Maryland State Dental Association where he served as vice president, America Dental Association and Fellow of American College of Dentists.

In 1952, he served as Mayor of Cambridge until 1960, from 1966 until 1970 he served as a Dorchester County Commissioner, from 1954 to 1955 was President of Maryland Municipal League, in 1956 he was chairman of legislative committee of Maryland Municipal League and in 1959 he was appointed by Governor Tawes to committee to study City-County Fiscal Relations. Dr. Smith was also a member of the American Municipal Association, where he served on the executive committee from 1956 to 1960 and the Water Resource Committee from 1957 to 1960 and was chairman from 1958 to 1960. In 1957, Dr. Smith was a Delegate to the International Conference of Local Government held in Hague, Netherlands. He was an honorary citizen of Havana, Berlin, Rome, London, Madrid, Tucson, Reno and Nashville by the mayors of these cities.

Dr. Smith was a member of the Cambridge Airport Commission, Creek Committee- Cambridge, St. Paul's United Methodist Church, where he was a member for 91 years, Cambridge Elks, life member of the Cambridge Moose Lodge, American Legion Post #91, Choptank Memorial Post 7460 VFW, Cambridge Country Club and Cambridge Yacht Club.

He is survived by his sons Russell P. Smith III and Barry L. Smith (Anne); five grandchildren Melinda Ann Smith, Betty Shay Smith, Bruce Aaron Smith, Kimberley S. Waller (Ken) and Russell P. Smith IV (Bethany); six great grandchildren Alexander Waller, Aiden Smith, Austin Smith, Jerry Carmine, Jr., Ethan Carmine and Shawn Carmine. Besides his parents and his wife, Dr. Smith is preceded in death by sisters Grace B. Dougherty & Anna S. Rue and brothers Wallace P. Smith, Bayly E. Smith & Edward P. Smith.

A graveside memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 21, 2013 at 3:30 p.m. at East New Market Cemetery with Pastor Dave Stewart and Rev. Fred Bahr officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 205 Maryland Ave., Cambridge, MD 21613. Arrangements are in the care of the Thomas Funeral Home, P.A. in Cambridge.