Obituary of Warren Smith Warren L. Smith, 69, passed away on Friday, September 7, 2018, after a long bout with renal cancer. Born on Wednesday, December 1, 1948 at an Army field hospital in La Plata, Maryland, he was the son of the late Claude Durbin Smith, WWII veteran and Salisbury Police officer, and the late Alice Mae (nee Adkins) Tilghman C&P Telephone operator. Warren graduated from James M. Bennett Senior High in 1966, from Towson University in 1970 with a triple major in English Literature, Mathematics, Psychology and Certification in Secondary Education.
In 1980, he graduated from Salisbury University with a master’s degree in Education. He also earned a Certificate in Public School Supervision & Administration from Loyola University. As a youth, Warren learned to play piano well, and his piano-playing was featured live in the studio, on the local Salisbury television station WBOC TV-16.
He also had a strong commitment to public service and social justice. While in high school, he participated in a sit-in at Goucher College to protest racial segregation. Warren had an extensive work history after graduating from high school.
Some of those jobs included: student newspaper staff, as well as making and selling meals-to-go for his classmates at Towson University; Milkman from Koontz Creamery; Lifeguard for Maryland Department of Natural Res at Assateague Island State Park; Assistant Manager in the Produce Department of the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company in Dulaney Valley; Panel Operator & Feedmaker for Tyson Foods, Appliance and Furniture Delivery for Montgomery Wards, mechanic for Simpson’s Gulf Service; Salesman of Work Clothes and Menswear at J.C.Penny; and sportswriter, PR man at Ocean Downs Raceway. Warren also taught briefly in Baltimore City Public Schools, and taught piano lessons from his home. His professional career officially began in 1971 when he started working for the Worcester County Board of Education as a middle and elementary school language arts and reading teacher.
Over the years he volunteered as an Olympics of the Mind coach and as an Outdoors Maryland coordinator. For 18 years, he was a state/county teachers’ association representative. In 1987 he was a professor of English Composition and Literature and Remedial Composition at Wor-Wic Community College in Salisbury leaving this position in 1991.
He officially retired from the Worcester County Board of Education in 2002. Following his retirement, Warren volunteered for Eastern Shore Community College in Accomack County, Virginia, teaching English, while simultaneously learning Spanish. He also served as a substitute teacher for the Accomack Co. School District.
Warren was an idealist, a chef, and an animal lover. He and his wife Anne (nee Young) Smith founded Knotty Knoll Kennels in Snow Hill, Maryland, which produced many award-winning, AKC champion Schipperke show dogs, whose lines are still sought-after by breeders worldwide. Warren also patented a hybrid breed of rabbit called Palominx.
He was an avid gardener, outdoorsman, and fan of history, especially local history. Warren L. Smith is survived by three children and four grandchildren: son Neale Edward Smith (42) and his wife Erin of Catonsville, MD, and their three children, Genevieve Smith (4), Henry & Sebastian Smith (7 months); a son David Andrew Smith (38) of Annandale, VA, a stepdaughter Hope Victoria Eastman (48), and her son Evan Brittingham (12) of Fruitland, MD. One surviving brother and family: William Claude Smith (60); Will’s daughter, Durbin Smith-Hamilton (38), her husband Scott Hamilton, their son Nathan Hamilton (13) of Fruitland, MD; and Will’s son, William Bennett Smith (11) of Delmar, DE.
Warren was preceded in death by his wife, Anne Kathryn Smith, by his daughter, Morgan Lavinia Smith, and also by his parents. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, October 7, 2018 at 1:00 pm at Holloway Funeral Home in Salisbury. A visitation with the family will be held one hour prior to the service.
Interment will follow on Monday, October 8, 2018 at Wicomico Memorial Park in Salisbury. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Warren to the Anne Kathryn Smith merit scholarship fund at Wor Wic Community College Foundation, ATTN: Jessica Hales, 32000 Campus Drive, Salisbury, MD 21804. Arrangements are in the care of Holloway Funeral Home, P.A., 501 Snow Hill Road, Salisbury, MD 21804.
To send condolences to the family, please visit www. hollowayfh.com.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
