David Smith

CONCORD- On March 10, 2022, after several years of declining health, we said good-bye to David Michael Smith of Concord, NC.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm, Saturday, March 19, 2022 at St. James Lutheran Church in Concord, NC. Following the service, the family will receive in the Fellowship Hall.

David was born April 8, 1941 in Mt. Airy, NC to the late Burrus Durham Smith and Cecil Spencer Smith. He was preceded in death by his grandson, Jake Whitaker and sister Karolyn Sloop.

David is survived by his wife of 61 years, Joyce Harrison Smith; daughter, Jeannette Whitaker (Dale) of Wake Forest, NC; son Scott Smith (Rita) of St. Petersburg, FL; grandchildren Julian Smith (Talia), Lilly Smith (Felix) Shane Smith, Holly Smith, Harrison Smith, Michelle Kenney (Brad) and Erin Whitaker (Devin); great grandchildren Nikaya, Brandon, Savannah and Devin; brothers Ronald Smith (Elaine), Dr. Burrus Smith; sisters Rose Ann Croft (Phil) and Linda S. Carpenter (Bill).

David met his soulmate, Joyce, at Concord High School, and they married in 1960. They continue to maintain lifelong friendships with Spider classmates and returned to live in Concord in 2007. Beyond being an exceptional student, David lettered in Varsity football.

David earned his Bachelor’s of Science in Electrical Engineering (minor in Math) and Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from NCSU. He was also on the NCSU Diving Team and was a member of HKN honorary electrical engineering society.

David’s life personified the American Dream. His professional career was as vast and diversified as his wonderful and adventurous life, never afraid of a new challenge. He was on the faculty at UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine where he published numerous articles concentrating on electromechanical physiological research that included several patents for equipment specific to neuroscience research. As a successful businessman, David then formed his own engineering firm, Eutectic Electronics. He pursued a passion for education where he held teaching positions at Coastal Carolina Community College and Professor in Electrical Engineering UNC-Charlotte. He was awarded the Phi Beta Delta International Scholar award, heading the international engineering exchange program forming intellectual and academic ties between France, Romania and Spain.

As part of his love for engineering and design, his last professional achievement was developing his mountain home community, Morning Side of the Mountain, in Virginia. David included architectural and structural engineering concepts learned in his exploration of ancient Europe in the design of these highly efficient and structurally enduring homes; dwellings that will outlive their descendants.
David was a man of deep faith. He was a baptized member of the Baptist faith and served several churches as a deacon and Sunday School teacher. He later joined St. James Lutheran Church in Concord, NC.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Jake Whitaker Memorial Scholarship: (Chemistry/Biology) at ASU. Checks can be sent to: Advancement Services, ASU Box 32014, Watson-Brumit Hall, Boone, NC 28608. Attention: Jake Whitaker Scholarship #93900. Or they can be made to the charity of your choice.