Glenn F. Smith

Glenn F. Smith was a St. Louisan who loved his wife and family, rose high in his profession, happily attended the baseball and soccer games of his children and grandchildren, competed in tournament bridge and could recall the particulars of hands that he had played decades before, and had a lightning-fast sense of humor and wordplay that did not exclude the pun.

Mr. Smith was born on June 27,1932. He grew up in south St. Louis in the neighborhood around Shaw’s Garden in a time when a boy on a bike might see a lot of his hometown. He played football and baseball at Coyle High School and graduated in 1949. At Saint Louis University he earned a bachelor’s degree in commerce in 1953, then served in the United States Army at Camp Chaffee in Arkansas from 1953 to 1955. He lived the rest of his life in St. Louis.

Mr. Smith met Marjorie Parsons in 1952 when they both volunteered as softball coaches in a Kirkwood youth league, and they were married in 1954. They raised four sons and a daughter, and celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary in 2013.

Over the years the family took camping and fishing vacations, and Mr. Smith coached youth sports and rooted for any number of his children’s teams. When the children were grown he resumed his college enthusiasm for contract bridge. He played tournament bridge for many years and served as president of the American Contract Bridge League in 2000. On the basis of his skill at contract bridge he rose to the ACBL rank of life master.

Mr. Smith spent most of his working career at Laclede Gas Company, starting there as junior accountant after leaving the Army. He held a number of accounting and managerial positions over the years and retired in 1992 as senior vice president of finance.

In 1987, Mr. Smith contracted Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare paralyzing illness, and was hospitalized for 11 months. In 2012, his entry in an essay contest described his love and respect for his wife, Marjorie, for without her loving care and partnership his recovery of a good quality of life would have been much reduced. After his recovery he volunteered to share advice and encouragement with others who contracted Guillain-Barré. In retirement he was a loving owner of two fine yellow Labrador Retriever dogs.

Mr. Smith died on Dec. 7, 2013, in St. Louis after a brief illness. He is survived by his wife, their sons Ken, Dale, and Steve Smith, and daughter Christine Ross, their spouses, and 9 grandchildren.

A memorial service and reception will be 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Dec. 21, at Lighthouse Christian Fellowship, 7717 Big Bend Blvd. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to BackStoppers, an area organization that provides assistance to the families of police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and EMT’s who have lost their lives performing their duty.