Frank Gregory Smith

Frank Smith ObituaryObituary published on Legacy.com by Heritage Funeral Home & Cremation Services - Panama City on Mar. 9, 2026.Frank Gregory Smith passed away peacefully on February 7, 2026, at his home in Panama City Beach, Florida, just days short of his 101st birthday.Frank was a native of New London, CT. He also resided in Groton, CT; Wichita, KS; and Newport News, VA before moving to Florida in 2020.After graduating from New London's Chapman Technical High School in 1943, Frank enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served on a destroyer minesweeper in the Pacific Theater during World War II and continued to serve in the Korean War in the 1950s.After his naval service, Frank went on to careers at: Pfizer & Co.; General Dynamics, Electric Boat; the Boeing Company; and eventually retired from Newport News Shipbuilding.While raising a family with his first wife, Lorelei Bowers Smith, Frank attended years of night school classes, earning an Associate's degree in Engineering from Mitchell College, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master's of Business Administration, both from the University of New Haven, CT. With his second wife, Gwendolyn (Peggy) Everett Wiggins Smith, he enjoyed numerous classes as part of the Christopher Newport University Lifelong Learning Society before and after his retirement in 1990. He also traveled throughout the U.S. and internationally with his family and in conjunction with the Elderhostel, Road Scholar program.Frank was a proud member of several lodges including Bayview Lodge 120 of Niantic, CT; the Lodge Council Consistory; Scottish Rite Bodies of the Valley of Norwich, CT; the Spinx Temple of Newington, CT; and the Peninsula Shrine Club of Newport News, VA.Frank was predeceased by his mother, Gladys May Smith; sister, Gladys Swaenepoel; wife, Gwendolyn; and former wife, Lorelei. Survivors include his children Cynthia Archer (Ron, deceased) of Albuquerque, NM; David Stewart Smith (Tracy) of Panama City, FL; Jennifer Smith-Mathanool (George) of Groton, CT; grandchildren Shannon Archer Williams (Daniel) of Tijeras, NM; Alexander Smith of Austin, TX; Cara Smith Huggins (Eli) of Lafayette, CO; Ethan Mathanool and Evangeline Mathanool, both of Groton, CT; and his great granddaughter, Allison Williams of Tijeras, NM. In addition, Frank is survived by his nephew Thomas Swaenepoel (Shirley) of Norwich, CT, their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren; and finally, the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren of his second wife, Peggy, of Newport News, VA.The family will forever cherish Frank's Depression era frugality, his deep appreciation for a good meal, his steadfast work ethic and commitment to a job well done, his can do fix it spirit, his delight in a good laugh, and the remarkable perseverance that carried him through more than a century of life.To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.