David Larry Smith, born September 25, 1938, in Lancaster, TN. He returned home to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on April 7, 2025. He was 86 years old.
Larry is survived and missed by his loving wife Joyce (née Littlejohn) of 63 years and son, Johnny. He will be forever cherished and remembered by his two grandchildren, Brandon (Maria) and Shaun and great-grandchildren Connor, Gabriela, and Roman. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
His infectious spirit lives on with his beloved sisters Judy (Eddie), Patricia, and Debbie (Jerry).
Larry was preceded in death by his parents Lois and Thomas Smith; brother James Shannon; Brother-in-Law Jere Turner, and many close friends and family.
He was born in Lancaster, a place that shaped his outlook on life. He later moved to Old Hickory where he attended high school at Dupont, graduating in 1956, and becoming a part of the “Old Hickory Bunch”.
He joined the Navy in 1956, where he went to submarine school in New London, Connecticut and served on the U.S.S. Sealion, a point of pride for Larry. His family came and visited on board the submarine at one point.
Upon returning from military service, he offered Joyce a ride to work in the rain, setting the stage for a lifetime of love and companionship. They began dating in January of 1960 and were married in September of 1961. Larry and Joyce later moved to Mt. Juliet, where they raised their son, Johnny, spending many years coaching baseball, and later helped form Troop 911 with the Boy Scouts of America, serving as the troops’ second Scout Master.
Larry was a 30+ year employee of Dupont in Old Hickory, where he served as a Control Electrician, among other roles during his long tenure. It is at Dupont where he made many lifelong friends.
He later became a Freemason, where he remained a member of Mt. Juliet Lodge No. 642 for 39 years, as well as having received his 32° from the Nashville Scottish Rite, and became a Shriner.
Larry had an impressive and ever-evolving list of hobbies. He became a pilot and served in the Civil Air Patrol and once was named Civil Air Patrol Man of the Year. He loved music and learned a host of instruments, such as the banjo, harmonica, violin, and guitar. He particularly loved playing music at the campground and for his great grandchildren. He was an avid sports fan, always rooting for the Vols, Vandy, and the Braves. He was an expert conversationalist and always had a great story to tell. He was a lifelong camper, from tent camping with the Scouts, to RV camping with his Winnies Clubmates, to later as a snowbird at Pioneer Creek in Bowling Green, FL.
There will be a visitation for Larry on Monday, April 14, 2025 from 10:00 am until 11:00 am at Hermitage Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens, 535 Shute Lane, Old Hickory, TN 37138. His Celebration of Life will begin at 11:00 am in the Tulip Grove Chapel at Hermitage Funeral Home. His final resting place will be in the Garden of
Fond memories, words of comfort and expressions of sympathy may be left for the Smith Family by selecting the “Add A Memory” tab below or by visiting www.hermitagefh.com
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