Kenneth N. Smith

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Kenneth N. Smith, 73, a retired navy veteran, died Saturday, September 12, 2015 at Rhode Island Hospital, Providence. He was the beloved husband of Donna M. (Dyer) Smith with whom he celebrated 43 years of marriage on October 2, 2014.

Born in Newport, the son of the late James E. and Florence I. (Potter) Smith and the step-son of the late Hope (Wright) Smith, he had lived in Warwick since 1947. He graduated from Warwick Veterans Memorial High School in 1962. He served as a cook in the United States Navy retiring after 22 years at the rank of Petty Officer First Class. He received an associate degree in Food Service from Johnson & Wales College in 1984. He also worked as a driver for Brink’s and as a Food Inspector for the Rhode Island Department of Health. For a short time he also worked at Foxwoods and at Newport Grand. Ken, who was a very patriotic American, volunteered thousands of hours in the military lounge at T.F. Green Airport.

A member of the Masonic Fraternity for 49 years, he belonged to: Harmony Lodge #9, Cranston; St. John's Lodge #1, Providence; Daylight Lodge #48; the Scottish Rite Valley of Providence, the Rhode Island Shriners and the Shrine Legion of Honor. His other memberships included the Disabled American Veterans, Tri City Elks Lodge #14 BPOE, Warwick and Manufacturers Lodge #15 International Order of Odd Fellows. Ken was active in local politics. He was the presiding Chairman of the Ward 1 Democratic Committee in Warwick and on two occasions he ran for election to the Warwick City Council.

In addition to his wife he is survived by their son Russell J. Smith of Warwick; and his two sisters: Beverly J. Allen of and Linda L. Lombari, both of Warwick. He was a loving Poppy to his granddaughter Brianna Caddy.

His funeral service will be held on Thursday, September 17, 2015 at 9 a.m. in Carpenter-Jenks Funeral Home & Crematory, 659 East Greenwich Avenue, West Warwick. Calling hours will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday, September 16 from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. during which an Odd Fellows Memorial service will be conducted at 6 p.m. and a Masonic Memorial service at 7 p.m. Burial with military honors will take place on Thursday in Rhode Island Veterans Cemetery in Exeter.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to: Insight, 43 Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick, RI 02888-9961 or to American Diabetes Association-New England, 10 Speen Street, 2nd Floor, Framingham, MA 01701.Remembrances may be shared online at carpenterjenks.com