James A. Smith was born on October 29, 1935, Leavenworth, KS, to the parents of
William C. & Jeannette M. (Deucher) Smith, Sr.
James was baptized and attended Sunflower Missionary Baptist Church; he attended
Leavenworth public schools where James was very active in sports. After high school, he
enlisted in the United States Air Force, March 2, 1954. He was an Intercept Radio Operator
and served in the Korean Conflict where he flew missions over Russia and the China border.
He married in 1977 Diana Rivers from where they had a great 46 year union. He worked for
Bay State Mill and later was employed by the City of Leavenworth from which he retired in
October 1994. During his retirement, as well as before, his passion was fishing, camping,
gardening, playing 'slow-pitch' baseball and watching his KC Royals, KC Chiefs & KU Men's
Basketball until two strokes and glaucoma finally took his sight.
On February 2, 2023, James went home to his LORD and to other family members that were
waiting for him. Those that have gone on before him are his parents; a son, Gregory B.
Smith; step-son Jamal U. Smith; one brother, William C. Smith; two sisters, Virginia Dorsey
& Shirley Lambkins; one half-brother, William Rider; and nephew, Dale Lambkins, Jr.
James was loving, intelligent, funny, very caring; loved fishing, his 'Stacy Adams', and was
a most avid fan of the KC Royals, KC Chiefs and KU Men's Basketball; and also a 'life'
member of the American Legion Andrew Newton Post 94, Leavenworth. He was liked by
everyone he met and in life never made an enemy. He leaves to keep him in memory, his
wife, Diana; five daughters, Kathryn Dawn, North Kansas City, MO; Lois White, Gina
(Michael) Bennett, Candice (Effram) Brown, Carmen (Morgan) Adams, Atlantic City, NJ;
three sons, James Smith, Jr., Vineland, NJ; Michael (Marissa) Smith, Atlantic City, NJ;
William (Michelle) Smith, Pleasantville, NJ. Four step-children, Kim Anderson & Anthony
Smith, Atlantic City, NJ; William Rivers and Tessa Rivers, Leavenworth; numerous grand,
great & step grandchildren, one very special niece Cynthia Derrell; life-long friends Alonzo
Davis and Louis Daniels; and a host nephews, nieces, cousins.