Thomas Argo Smith

Thomas Argo Smith passed away December 22, 2009, in Medford, OR, at the age of 70. The second child of Ernest F. and Louise Korn Smith, he was born in Savannah, GA, on January 13, 1939. In 1946, the family moved to Alexandria, VA, where they owned and operated the White Owl and Brookside Motels for ten years before moving to McLean. Growing up, Tom attended the St. Stephen’s Episcopal Schools for many years and Fork Union Military Academy briefly; before graduating in 1956. In high school, he was prominent in sports, particularly as a baseball pitcher. The University of Miami in Coral Gables, FL, was his college alma mater, and he graduated in 1959 with a BA in business. Afterwards, he worked for Quaker Oats, the C.I.A., and then as assistant to James Matthews of Tops Restaurants, a promoter of Kentucky Fried Chicken. In 1964 he was trained as a stockbroker in New York City by Reynolds & Co. but spent most of his career involved in various small business ventures. Being concerned about the loss of freedom in America, he participated in many political campaigns and was active as a lobbyist, an organizer for the John Birch Society, and president of Fairfax County Taxpayers Association. On June 12, 1965, he married Adelaide C. Curll in Covina, CA, and their two children were raised in Virginia and then Colorado until 1986. He resided in Las Vegas, NV, for many years before moving to Medford, OR, to be closer to his family. Mr. Smith is survived by his children, Mrs. Eric J. Schaafsma (A. Dorothea) and Mr. Thomas Crosby Smith, both of Grants Pass, and ten grandchildren. Also surviving him are his sisters, Mrs. Margaret Kincaid of Bluemont, VA, and Mrs. Joan Seidenspinner of Ocean City, MD. Along with his parents, he is preceded in death by his younger brother Mr. Robert A. Smith of Scottsdale, AZ. The family held a private memorial before Christmas, and there are no plans for other services. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in his memory to the Pregnancy Care Center of Grants Pass, P.O. Box 5040, Grants Pass, OR 97527.