Burneal Eugene Smith

Pinehurst NC

 

Burneal Eugene Smith was born on July 12, 1924, the only child of Luther and Edna Smith who sharecropped on a farm near Springfield Ohio. As he grew up and helped around the farm, the sight and sound of military aircraft flying from Wright Patterson Air Station in nearby Dayton sparked young Burneal's imagination and gave him his life's calling. So that after graduating at the top of his class from North Hampton High School in June of 1942, he applied and was accepted to Naval Officer Candidate School and then to Naval Flight School where, again, he finished near the top of his class. He then applied and was subsequently accepted to become a Marine Corps Aviator in June of 1944. For 27 years Burneal Smith served his country with honor, distinguishing himself in combat in the WWII and in the Korean Conflict (where he was awarded a Silver Star), and training helicopter pilots for the Viet Nam War. He retired from the Marine Corps with the rank of Colonel in September of 1969. In 1946 he married his his hometown sweetheart and the love of his life, Betty Jean Remley, who bore him three sons and a daughter. Shortly after retiring from the Marine Corps, Burneal began a second career with First Citizens Bank and Trust in Jacksonville, NC. In 1974 he was selected to open the bank's newest branch on Broad Street in Southern Pines, NC, where he worked until he retired as a Vice president in 1985. Colonel Burneal Eugene Smith lived his life with a rare combination of honor, dignity, and uncommon compassion. He is survived by his daughter, Carol Jean Smith, and his youngest son, Kevin A. Smith.

 

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm December 20, 2014 at the Congregational Church of Pinehurst, 895 Linden Road, Pinehurst, NC

 

In lieu of flowers the family is asking that donations be made to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society either online at www.donate.nmcrs.org, or by mailing a check to Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Attn: Development, 875 N Randolph St. Ste 225, Arlington, VA 22203.

 

Powell Funeral Home and Crematory of Southern Pines is assisting the family

 

Online condolences at www.PinesFunerals.com