Kenneth Duane "Smitty" Smith was born July 8, 1937, to Ashley V and Hilda Marie Joens Smith in Akron, CO.  He departed this life June 6 ^th , 2018, after a short battle with cancer.  Kenneth was the youngest of nine children.  He attended Akron High School excelling in football, basketball and track. After graduating in 1955, he declined a sport scholarship at Colorado State College at Greeley, CO (now UNC) and enlisted in the US Navy.  He chose to train for air traffic control and became a control tower operator stationed in Guam. Serving from July 22, 1955 – July 21, 1959.  After an honorable discharge, Ken started his career in Casper, Wyoming, then Las Vegas, Nevada and finally retiring from Stapleton International Airport in Denver, Colorado.  Ken moved back to Akron after his retirement and became involved with the Akron Elks, Akron Downs, VFW and the Washington County Golf Club.

Ken was never married, never had children of his own, yet was always a family man. Being an avid golfer, he shared his love of sports with his nieces and nephews. Always a kid at heart, Uncle Kenny was always the "fun" uncle, bringing the latest toys to try out with us kids. There are very fond memories of football, baseball, kickball and soccer being played in the street in front of the house, pasture golf, kites, bows and arrows and BB guns, rubber rafts in the pasture lagoon and horseback riding.  Uncle Kenny was always generous when it came to his mother and children of all ages. Smitty was very fond of Cale Chesterman and spent numerous hours with him and dog Duke.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Ashley & Hilda Smith; brothers Walter Smith, Ashley Smith and Robert Smith; sisters Mae Kristoff, Laura Wilder, Viola Spotts, Eleanor Gunton and Elsie Bowland; and niece Patricia Wilder.  He is survived by 30 nieces and nephews and numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews.

A funeral service was held Monday, June 11, 2018 at the Akron Cemetery Gazebo.  Interment followed at the Akron Cemetery.  Memorial donations may be made to the Children's Hospital.