Col. Aaron Alexander Smith, US Army (Ret.)

Col. Aaron Alexander Smith, US Army (Ret.), 77, of Johns Island, South Carolina, husband of Jean Richards Smith, entered into eternal rest on Sunday, May 31, 2026. His funeral service will be held Friday, June 5, 2026 in the J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. Downtown Chapel at 11:00 am, with visitation beginning at 10:30 am. Burial with military honors will take place in Beaufort National Cemetery on Monday, June 8, 2026 at 11:00 am.

Aaron was born April 19, 1949 in Lenoir, North Carolina, son of the late Harry Joe Smith and Betty D. Horton. Aaron and his family then moved to California where he became a lifelong Dodgers fan before eventually heading back to the East Coast to the Tennessee and North Carolina areas. He worked for the IRS while in college and received his undergraduate degree from East Tennessee State University, later attending Memphis State University Law School and later attended the US Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. After 31 years in the US Army Reserves, Aaron retired with the rank of Colonel and while working as a CPA.

Aaron was a man of tradition and values. He loved traveling and especially enjoyed planning elaborate vacations. He was also an avid marathon runner and participated in numerous US Marine Corps marathons.

In addition to his wife, Aaron is survived by his sons, Jeffrey Smith (Sun-Wei), Patrick Smith, and Thomas Smith (Lindsay); grandsons, James and Henry Smith; brother, Mitchell Smith; and sister, Carolyn Younce. In addition to his parents, Aaron was preceded in death by his brother, Harry Joseph "Joe" Smith.