Delta Company 1/20

From Wendell Strode:

Company Family - It saddens me to report the passing of Maldon "Duke" Smith. I decided to call his Mother after my latest email to Delta Company had a return of his email address. When I asked about Duke, she said, "honey, he went to heaven a year ago in September".

She said he had been on dialysis for over 5 years and it was all caused by Agent Orange. She said he put a good fight but just finally got to the point he had nothing left to fight with.

I had called her once before and it was very obvious that she and Duke had a great relationship. She talked about that some also during our conversation.

She asked how the other 'boys' in Delta Company were doing and I told her we had lost a couple others and a couple spouses. Duke served in Nam from 6/69 to 6/70. If anyone served with Duke and would want to chat with Mrs. Smith, it will please her very much. Contact Wendell Strode for details.

Obituary:

SMITH, MALDON LEE "DUKE" JR., 63, of Louisville passed away Saturday September 11, 2010 at Sts. Mary and Elizabeth Hospital.

He worked for American Synthetic in Process Control and for the Pro Shop at Bobby Nicholas Golf Club. Duke was an Army veteran serving in the Vietnam War, a several time champion of Bobby Nichols Golf Course, a Kentucky Colonel and the Bell of Louisville Captain.

He is preceded in death by his father, Maldon Smith Sr.

Survivors include his mother, Pauline Childers Smith; children, Emily Michelle Smith, Robert Maldon Smith (Deni Jo) and William Scott Smith (Ann); grandsons, William "Liam" Alex and Kaleb Smith; several aunts, uncles, cousins and friends; and his best buddy, Silver Streak.

Service will be 1p.m. Wednesday at Owen Funeral Home with entombment in Resthaven Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday, 2-8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Expressions of sympathy can be made to the Humane Society of Shively or to Feed the Children from Oklahoma City.

Online condolences to www.owenfuneralhome.com

Published in The Courier-Journal on September 13, 2011