Joseph H. S. Smith – Colonel, United States Army

From a contemporary press report:

Joseph H.S. Smith, 80, a retired Army Colonel who commanded procurement agencies and helped consolidate contract management services of defense and government departments, died of congestive heart failure December 6, 2002, at Virginia Hospital Center-Arlington.

Colonel Smith, who lived in Falls Church, was a native of Waycross, Georgia, and a graduate of Northeastern University. He received an MBA from Babson College in Wellesley, Mass., and a doctorate in business administration from American University.

He served 31 years in the Army, beginning in 1943. In the late 1950s, he helped establish a support command in Europe to supply and repair military equipment. He headed the Army Procurement Agency in Vietnam during the war there and commanded the procurement agency in Rome to supply materials to NATO nations.

When he retired from active military duty in 1974, he was executive assistant to the deputy director of the Defense Contract Administrative Services of the Defense Supply Agency.

In retirement, he was chairman and president of the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors.

He was a Mason and a member of the Military Order of the World Wars and the Harvard Business School Club of Washington.

His military decorations include a Legion of Merit and a Bronze Star.

Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Ruth A. Smith of Falls Church.


SMITH, JOSEPH H.S., COL. USA (Ret.)

On Friday, December 6, 2002 of Falls Church, Virginia. Beloved husband of Ruth A. Smith. Also survived by many relatives in Georgia.

Funeral services will be held at the Fort Myer Chapel on Tuesday, January 7, 2003 at 9 a.m. Interment Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.

Memorial contributions may be made to The American Heart Association, 7203 Poplar St., Annandale, Virginia 22003.

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