Ray V. Smith, Jr, age 97, of Springfield, MO passed away, peacefully, on July 25, 2020 in his home. He was born April 13, 1923 in Independence, MO to Ray V. Smith, Sr and Oma (Wilder) Smith.

Ray served as Signalman 1st Class in the US Navy during World War II. He entered the service in Kansas City, MO at the age of 17. After the war started, he made three trips to Africa. While assigned to the merchant ship Benjamin Harrison, heading to Africa, the ship was hit by a German torpedo. From his assigned position Ray could see the torpedo headed toward the ship. When hit, everyone went into action. Ray's lifeboat was tangled in the lowering mechanism and the men were dumped into the ocean. All he had was his life jacket, whistle, and flashlight. He was in the water several hours and just as it was getting dark a ship came to the rescue.

Men rescued from situations like this were called "Survivors". After medical treatment from oil burns, Ray was sent to the Brooklyn Naval Yard then home on leave for 30 days. When reassigned he enjoyed "survivor" treatment such as first in line for meals and first in line at pay day. He taught several signalman courses then got to pick a ship and went to sea again making trips to England, New Guinea, Australia, Guam and Saipan plus a number of South Pacific Islands. Ray was in Saipan in 1945 when the war was over, and it took almost a month to get back to San Diego.

Ray joined the Naval Reserve in 1947 and went to Drury College, Springfield, MO, for a short time. He sold real estate and worked as a dispatcher in the traffic department for a truck line in Kansas City.

He was called to duty when the Korean War began in 1949 as a Quartermaster. He was assigned duty at the Great Lakes Naval Station and then sent to Japan. He received the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Bear, Victory Medal, European Theatre Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Area Medal, Pre-Pearl Harbor Medal, Korean War Medal, World War II Victory Medal and the Korean Presidential Unit Citation.

After Korea, Ray was an Arthur Murray Dance Instructor in Missouri, California, Louisiana and Ohio. He has been married for 35 years to Betty (Cunningham) Smith. They settled in Springfield, MO where Ray worked for the MO State Employment Office until retirement and is a member of the Elks Lodge. Ray was nominated by The Daughters of the Rachel Donelson Chapter DAR as Patriot of the Month for his patriotic service and commitment to our great nation.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Louise Schlosser and brother, Dade Smith. He is survived by his wife, Betty Smith; son, George B Smith and wife Kay, of Crane, MO; daughter, Danette Dykema and her husband, Hershel, Dallas, TX; son, Dan Cunningham and his wife Michele, Colorado Springs, CO; in addition to 10 loving grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home at 10:30 am to 12:00 pm on Friday, July 31, 2020. Private military services for the family will be held at Missouri Veterans Cemetery.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Disabled American Veterans (DAV).