April 23, 1935 – August 9, 2026
Thomas D. Smith, of Tullahoma, TN, passed away at his home on August 9, 2026, at the age of 91. Tom was born in Moore County on April 23, 1935, to Arthur Joe Smith and Flora Mae Statum Smith. He grew up in Franklin County, primarily in the Broadview community, where hunting, fishing, and farming filled much of his youth.
On October 12, 1954, he married Bettye Ann Benson of Winchester, and they shared 65 years of marriage. When their children became teenagers, Tom and Bettye began RVing and enjoyed many years as members of two RV clubs, traveling with friends. After retirement, they traveled across the United States from Alaska to Key West, visiting all but four states.
While living in Winchester, Tom served in the Tennessee National Guard and worked in several occupations before becoming a machinist. His machinist work led him to Grand Prairie, Texas, in 1963, where he machined aircraft parts. While there, he also owned a Conoco service station, fulfilling his desire to be his own boss. In 1967, a supervisor position manufacturing aircraft parts became available in Martinsville, Indiana, and Tom moved his family there. The family made their final move back to Tullahoma in 1971, where Tom worked in construction and later at Batesville in Manchester before establishing Tullahoma Lock & Key in 1980.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Bettye Ann Benson Smith; his brothers, Bobby Joe Smith and William Cecil Smith; his grandson, Paul Thomas Edens; and his great-granddaughter, Sarah Elizabeth Smith. He is survived by his sisters, Katie Partin of Tullahoma and Carolyn (Steve) Macon of Winchester; his children, Raymond (Tammy) Smith of Tullahoma, Kandy (Chuck) Edens of Normandy, and James (Dana) Smith of Franklin; and his wife of two months, Shirley Johnson. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Jennifer Berisford, Chris Smith, Heather Watson, Charity Smith, Jacob Edens, Ellie Smith, Campbell Smith, and Anderson Smith; seven great-grandchildren, John Smith, Carter Watson, Charlie Watson, Anna Berisford, Ella Berisford, Levi Edens, and Emerson Edens, along with many nieces and nephews.
Once, while looking at a family photo, he asked, “Did I cause all of this?”
Pallbearers are his grandsons, Chis Smith, Jacob Edens, Campbell Smith and great-grandsons, John Smith, Carter Watson, and Charlie Watson with Rev Patrick Waller officiating.
Visitation will be at Moore Cortner Funeral Home, Winchester, TN on Friday, August 14, 2026, from 11:00am – 1:00pm. Funeral Service will follow at 1:00pm in the Chapel of Moore-Cortner Funeral Home. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cementery, Winchester, TN.
Moore-Cortner Funeral Home, 300 First Ave NW, Winchester, TN 37398, (931)-967-2222, www.moorecortner.com.
