Obituary of James George Smith

Of Elmira, proud father, grandpa, devoted Raiders fan, lover of great food, warm beaches, Bingo volunteer at the Horseheads Elks, and proud service man, died on Thursday, May 3, 2017, in Florida, after a wonderful 75 years on this earth. Jimmy was raised in Elmira where he enjoyed time with his mother, Harriet, friends and family. He received his degree from Bryant & Stratton in Buffalo. He joined the U S Navy after high school and was based in Trinidad on a destroyer during the Cuban missile crisis. Post his time in the service Jimmy moved out west to Northern California where he found a passion for the Raiders, Oakland A's and Judge Judy. As a resident of Fremont CA, Jimmy enjoyed spending time with dear friends and helped raise John, Richie and Shelly Wallace. He taught them to work hard and the love of sports. He was an excellent chef, with his signature dish an award-winning beef stroganoff, and a jello salad, passed on from his mom. Jimmy loved warm weather, watching the sunset, enjoyed travelling and seeing new places, meeting people wherever his path took him. He excelled at cross word puzzles, enjoyed golfing when he could, and was full of quick wit. Jimmy loved outsmarting less-skilled drivers who he would endearingly call "morons", and read any history book he could get his hands on. He loved to flip between watching the Food Channel and anything on ESPN. Jimmy took pride in his time at the Horseheads Elks Club where he helped out with Bingo. After many years in California, Jimmy moved back to Elmira in 2008. For the past couple of years he was a "snowbird" spending his winters in Florida. Jimmy is predeceased by his father James Smith; mother Harriet Koehler Smith Brett; step-father Robert Brett; aunts, Eleanora and Dorothy Koehler, Eugenia Horan; uncle Dr. H. Walter Horan; cousin John G. Koehler. Jimmy is survived by his sons, John and his wife Heather Roning Wallace; Richie Wallace, and daughter Shelly Wallace; grandchildren, Rachel, Kimberly, and the twins, Justin and Colby; former wife and friend Lola Smith Wallace; uncle Ernest G. Koehler; cousins, Arlene Lundquest, Harriet Horan, Mark Horan, Susan Enders, Martha King, Edwin (Diane) Koehler. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., with a funeral service to follow at 12:00 noon at McInerny Funeral Home, 502 W. Water Street, Elmira, on Monday, May 15, 2017. Jimmy will then being taken to his final resting place, Woodlawn National Cemetery, 1825 Davis Street, Elmira, where he will be accorded military honors. Those wishing may remember Jimmy with a donation to the Horseheads Elks Club, 6 Prospect Hill Road, Horseheads NY 14845.