Claude Wellington Smith, Jr.

Claude W. Smith, age 88, took his last breath on August 12, 2026 at Novant Health Medical Center in his home town of Huntersville, North Carolina, in the company of his son and the love of his life.

He was born March 6, 1938 in Union, South Carolina, to Claude Wellington Smith Sr. and Helen Godshall Smith.

Claude has always taken pride in everything he does, from graduating from Clemson University to serving his country as an army First Lieutenant and in the National Guard and eventually getting promoted to second-in-command for the Buenos Aires Firestone Tire Plant at just 27 years old.

In between his many professional accomplishments, Claude was a three-sport athlete (whose love lived on watching sports and playing with his grandson), active in city leadership, enjoyed the symphony, and had a brief stint in high school theater.

Claude’s legacy includes his two sons, Bradford and Jeffrey Smith; his daughter-in-law and grandson, Lisa and Isaac Smith; his brother and sister-in-law, John Lesley and Brenda Smith; and his wife of 62 years, Hursey Dominy Smith.