Ansel Smith Jr

Smith Jr., Ansel "Bud" Passed away on February 21, 2016 in Jacksonville, FL, one month shy of his 101st birthday. Born on March 20, 1915 in Grand Rapids, MI, Bud was educated at Harvard University and the University of Michigan, where he received his law degree. He had a distinguished 45-year career as a founding partner of the West Michigan law firm of Smith, Haughey, Rice & Roegge. He was a member of the American Bar Association, the Bar Associations of Michigan and Grand Rapids, and Phi Delta Phi Law Fraternity. He was a civic leader throughout his career, serving as President of the United Fund & Community Services (now United Way), the Grand Rapids Civic Theater, the Friends of Michigan Historical Collections (University of Michigan), Kent Country Club and the University Club. Bud also served as a Trustee on the Boards of the Michigan Foundation for the Arts, Grand Rapids Arts Council and the Kendall College of Art & Design. He retired to Fripp Island, SC, with his beloved wife, Roes, where he remained for 17 years before moving to Jacksonville in 2001. Bud served two years in the Pacific Theatre during World War II as an officer in the Coast Guard, participating principally in the operations in the Solomon Islands, Marianna and Iwo Jima. He was Division Officer on the USS Sterope, a Navy cargo ship, and later was Executive Officer of the USS PC590 submarine chaser and landing control vessel. While in the Solomons, he made two 10-day visits to Auckland, N.Z., for munitions and supplies, in the course of which he met and married his lovely and beloved wife of 50 years, the former Roes Ashwell Makgill. Bud was preceded in death by his wife and is survived by three sons: Haldane of Fairfax, VA; Byron of Rogersville, MO, and Christopher of Jacksonville; three grandchildren: Byron Jr. of St. Louis, Collin of Florence, SC, and Summer of Jacksonville; and five great grandchildren. Interment is at St. Helena's Episcopal Church, Beaufort, SC. Arrangements by Quinn-Shalz Family Funeral Home, Jacksonville Beach, FL.

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