Smith was born on April 22, 1928 in Salisbury, North Carolina.

He was educated in Salisbury City Schools and attended University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill from 1942-1945.  He completed his dental education at Northwestern University School of Dentistry in Chicago.  He obtained his Master’s degree in orthodontics from UNC Chapel Hill in 1958.

He was married to Lois Jean Smith Kirk in February 1951 and they had three children.  She also served in the US Air Force.

Smith served as a captain in the United States Air Force in Dental Service at Maxwell Air Force Base with the 3810th Station Medical group in Montgomery, Alabama from 1949-51 and with the 7150th Medical Group in Wiesbaden Air Force Base, Germany from 1951-52.

From 1952-1958 he worked in private general practice and in 1958 he began his orthodontics practice in Salisbury.  He retired in 1999.  From 1952-63, he served as the dentist at the Presbyterian Home for Children.

He was a member of the North Carolina Dental Society and president of the North Carolina Orthodontic Association in 1973-74.

Dr. Kirk was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Mooresville where he served as elder and Sunday school teacher for 56 years.

He was a private pilot with an instrument rating.  He obtained his pilot’s license at the age of 16 before receiving his driver’s license.

He served as chairman of the Salvation Army Advisory Board in Salisbury.

He joined the Rotary Club of Salisbury in 1958 and served as president in 1982-83.  He served as district governor in 1989-90.

Smith died on May 29, 2014 at the Lutheran Home at Trinity Oaks.

– PRID Ken Morgan (2017)