Walter "Smitty" Smith

Walter W. “Smitty” Smith, 87, of Cranston, passed away peacefully at Rhode Island Hospital with his daughter and son-in-law at his side, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. Born March 28, 1938, in Providence, he was a son of the late Francis E. and Florence A. (Moore) Smith.

Walter grew up in Riverside, RI, the youngest of five tight-knit siblings. He graduated from East Providence Senior High School in 1955. After graduation, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps as an aviation volunteer. When he returned home in 1959 after being honorably discharged, he became involved in drum and bugle corps. 

A drummer himself, Walter owned and managed the Regal Crownsmen of Cranston, which later merged with the Simplex Minutemen of Gardner, MA. He was a beloved leader to the young people who joined the drum corps, some of whom eventually married, many of whom remain lifelong friends. At a Crownsmen reunion in 2019, they honored Walter for the impact he had on their lives, which was deeply meaningful to him. The plaque presented to him reads, “We thank you for the many years of unselfish Dedication, Commitment and Caring. You took groups of children not your own, and molded us all into better kids, better parents and now better grandparents. Generations not yet born will benefit someday from the life skills you instilled in all of us decades ago; skills we continue to pass on to our loved ones every day! This world is truly a better place because of Smitty and his entire Regal Crownsman Family! — Your Kids Forever”

A member of Ironworkers Local 37, Walter worked on building projects throughout the state and beyond until an on-site accident in 1986 necessitated his retirement due to disability. He then spent his time on things he loved: gardening; cooking and eating; reading science fiction and fantasy; completing crossword puzzles; watching scifi and educational TV, westerns, and Hallmark movies; gambling (slots, Keno, and scratchies only, occasionally bingo); enjoying time with his friends Ray Gelsomino, George from “the weenie joint,” and the residents of the Woodhaven condo community; and, most of all, being a devoted father and loving grandfather. He instilled a love of reading and learning in his daughter, which she passed on to her children. One of his proudest moments was watching her graduate from college. Walter’s generosity, optimism, and joy for life have touched everyone who was lucky to know him and will live on through his friends and family.

He was the father of Jennifer Smith Braga and her husband Michael; the grandfather of Finlay and Evangeline Braga; and the brother of Raymond Smith, the late Kelly Smith, the late Elston Smith, and the late Florence Soderlund.

His visitation will be Monday, Dec. 8, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. in the “WOODLAWN” Funeral Home, 600 Pontiac Ave., Cranston. Relatives and friends may gather at “WOODLAWN” Funeral Home, Tuesday, Dec. 9, at 9:45 a.m. and travel in procession to the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Exeter, for a brief ceremony and military honors at 11 a.m.

Walter was a longtime annual supporter of the Rhode Island Community Foodbank  and the Disabled American Veterans. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to either organization would be greatly appreciated.

Please share memories and condolences at www.WoodlawnRI.com.

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