Joseph "Phil" Smith

J. Phil Smith Trappe: J. Phil Smith passed away on July 11, 2011 at home surrounded by family and friends. Phil was 66 years old. Born in Easton on December 21, 1944 he was the son of the late Grace Balderson Smith and Joseph Carroll Smith. Mr. Smith attended school in Talbot County. He started working on the water at age 8 in his boat the “Four Sisters”, built by his father and Uncle Austin Smith. He grew up to become a commercial waterman until 1964 working from his home port of Oxford. Mr. Smith was the Superintendent of Maintenance for the Town of Oxford from 1969 to 1981, a commercial waterman again from 1988 to 2001, and he worked for Willow Construction in Easton from 1988 to 2001. Phil was known as a “Jack of all Trades”. He was a plumber, electrician, carpenter, farmer, welder, and a general handyman. If he didn’t know how to do something, he would ask friends and sit up thinking until he figured it out. Beginning a long career on log canoes as a bale boy with his uncle, Captain Buck Richardson, he advanced to the outrigger and then spring board sailing on the Island Bird, Island Blossom, Oliver’s Gift, Billy P. Hall and the JD with his Dad as a captain. Mr. Smith attended Oxford United Methodist Church. He was a member of the Oxford Volunteer Fire Company from 1960-1982 and served as a trustee and several terms as Chief Engineer. He was a member for 28 years of the B.P.O.E. #1622 in Easton and a member of the Tuckahoo Steam and Gas Association. Another hobby that took his time and money were his antique John Deere tractors. He tractor pulled for many years with his son, Robert and sister, Ione. He loved to restore antique plows which he took to the Schwaninger and Atlantic Tractor Plow Days. Because of his love for the water, he collected and restored antique marine engines which he exhibited around the Eastern and Western Shores of Maryland. His passing has left many projects undone. Mr. Smith is survived by his wife of nearly 47 years, Mary Ann Tarr Smith, a son Robert Carroll Smith and his wife Daphne of Trappe, a daughter Rebecca Chase Smith and her companion, Eddy Jones of Trappe. Phil is also survived by 5 grandchildren; Phillip Ireland, Scott Ireland, Amanda Grace Barnhart and her husband Patrick, Zane K. Fanning, and Grace A. Fanning, and one great-grandchild Emma Rose Barnhart. He is also survived by four sisters and a brother; Shirley Merryweather and her friend Roy Hicks of Easton, Ione Smith and friend Shannon Nichols of Zephyrillis, FL, Carol Crickenberger and her husband Albert of Federalsburg, MD, Eleanor Edgar of St. Petersburg, FL, and Richard Smith and his wife Cindy of Easton. Friends may call at Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home, Easton, on Thursday, July 14 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., where an Elks Memorial Service will be held at 7:45 p.m. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 15 at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 100 Peach Blossom Rd, Easton. Burial will follow in Oxford Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Oxford Volunteer Fire Department, 300 Oxford Rd, Oxford, MD 21654 and the Talbot Hospice Foundation, 586 Cynwood Drive, Easton, MD 21601

Joseph "Phil" Smith

December 21, 1944 - July 11, 2011