John Dee Smoot, Jr.

John Dee (JD) Smoot Jr. was born in Mansfield, Arkansas on February 27, 1933 to Ruby Mae (Heavener) Smoot and John Dee Smoot, Sr. He is preceded in death by his mother Ruby and step-father Theodore Roosevelt Reding. Also pre-deceasing him is Louise Mary (Friedbauer) Smoot, the mother of his two daughters. He is survived by his daughter Deanna Marie Hicks, daughter and son-in-law Laura Lee and David Nelson, his brother Joseph Reding, his grandchildren Christopher (Johanna) Hicks, Amanda (Scott) Starr, and Charlotte Nelson. He is also survived by his great-grandchildren Brennan and Sterling Hicks and Wyatt and Zoe Starr.

JD grew up in Arkansas and Oklahoma before moving to Longview, Washington where he graduated from R. A. Long High School in 1951. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1952 and served for the next 22 years at Air Force bases around the world. After training as an aircraft maintenance specialist at Chanute AFB, Rantoul, Illinois and Moody AFB, Valdosta, Georgia, he was assigned to Lawson Air Force Base in Moses Lake, Washington. In this specialty, John went to Ramstein AFB, Germany where he worked on the F-86 Sabre jets. He then retrained to become a radio frequency transmission systems specialist and was assigned to Goodfellow AFB in San Angelo, Texas. This work saw him assigned to several bases maintaining and operating radio communications systems providing air base defense and guidance to interceptor and attack aircraft at Iraklion Air Station on Crete, Greece, Dickinson Air Force Station, North Dakota, and Phu Cat Air Base in South Vietnam. After attaining the grade of Master Sergeant, MSgt Smoot ended his career as an instructor at the USAF School of Applied Cryptologic Sciences at Goodfellow AFB in San Angelo, Texas. Over his career, his standout decorations and awards included the Bronze Star Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Air Force Good Conduct Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Award, USAF NCO PME Graduate Ribbon, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Air Force Commendation Medal.

After retiring in San Angelo in 1973, John took on the roles of educator and student. He taught electronics courses for Howard College in Big Spring, Texas and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education from Angelo State University. This degree represented something he loved and to which he dedicated his pursuit of excellence: sports. Throughout his youth and adult life he played on social and competitive bowling teams but focused his competitive

nature on fast-pitch softball. In 1956, he played in the Air Force World-Wide Softball Tournament. In 1965, his team won the Air Force Softball Championship-Fast Pitch (see him on the field in digitized video at 25 seconds). In the early 80’s he organized the “Salt and Pepper” softball team of retirees and Angelo State University ROTC Detachment cadets competing in and winning the Goodfellow AFB fast-pitch intra-murals. He was a scratch golfer during his mid and later life. As he grew older, he organized local tournaments and volunteered at PGA and USGA tournaments. His 1st place trophies for bowling, softball and golf counted in the fifties and decorated bookshelves and stands throughout his home.

John’s hobbies included rebuilding car engines, repairing just about any appliances, playing all kinds of card games and hanging out with his family and friends. He loved to laugh and could be counted on to bring life’s problems into perspective. He was truly proud of raising and mentoring his two daughters to excel academically, both earning Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarships in computer science, and each retiring as Lieutenant Colonels after

over twenty years of service. He truly believed in working hard to achieve goals but also enjoying the benefits of such hard work.

John/JD/Daddy/PapaJohn passed away in January 2025, but he remains forever in the hearts and thoughts of his family.

A graveside service will be held on March 10, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.