Doug Smith
November 3, 1942 ~ June 12, 2002
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
A native of Richmond, VA, he was the son of the late Alfred Douglas and Pauline Helene Swink Smith. He was a pharmacist with Eckerd Drugs, a pilot and a magician.
Doug is survived by his wife, Carol K. Smith; seven children, Debbie Seely of Rolesville, David M. Smith of Carrollton, TX, Sonya Smith of Raleigh, Aaron Smith of Raleigh, Daryl Smith, Jason Saunders and Andrew Saunders of Asheville; two grandchildren, Anthony and Patrick Smith; one sister Maxine Huband of Richmond and her two daughters Ellen Cavanaugh and Karen Rawlyk.
Father, husband, pharmacist and friend, amateur pilot and magician, Doug was thoughtful, kind, generous and loving. He will be missed by his family and friends.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am Thursday in the chapel of Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian. Burial will be in Richmond, VA.
His family will receive friends following the service at the funeral home on Long Shoals Road.
Memorials may be made to the Doug Smith Pharmaceutical Scholarship Fund.
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I worked with Doug at the Eckerd Drugs on Patton Avenue
he was a great person always
upbeat. He was a excellent pharmacist he knew just about anything you asked and he would give you the answer. Ilearned alot for the short duration that I worked with him back in 1997, he will be greatly missed in this world. My deepest symathy goes out to his family, May God Bless All…
To be absent from the body is to be present with the
Lord. Today Doug is in paradise. May God fill you with
peace during this difficult time.
I just want to say that I will miss Doug Smith a great deal.
His warmth, humor, caring, and compassion were always readily available. I had the pleasure of being his rolfer
for a number of years, and I always looked forward to our time together. His earnest presence and ready smile
where a great source of true affection in my life.
I really enjoyed working with him. He was very generous, gracious, and kindhearted, and I considered him a true
friend.
I frequently had someone call me about getting rolfed and tell me that ‘their pharmacist’ told them to call me.
The care he showed his customers was a perfect reflection of his ability to actively engage himself in serving
others. Doug was as loved by his customers as anyone could be. His caring for people was a step beyond the
ordinary. He really took the time to show up for life, and it is a rare and wonderful example that he gave to all
of us fortunate enough to have had his friendship.
I was extremely fortunate in having known him, and I will always have a loving memory of him.
My thoughts and prayers are with all the others that knew him, and loved him, and now miss him.
SIncerely,
Nathan Boniske
I worked with Doug at the mall when I first moved to Asheville. He was ALWAYS in a good mood and he spread that cheer to others. I was new to the area and was planning to get married. I didn’t belong to a church and didn’t know many people and Doug arranged for his pastor to perform the ceremony. He was always a giver. When someone dies you always remember the last time you saw them. For me it was on Secretaries Day. My bosses were out of town and had forgotten. Doug called and took me to lunch for the occasion. I will never forget that. He will TRULY be missed.
Doug was very special to our family. We knew him only as a pharmacist, and found him to be very genuine and kind always. You could tell he had a passion for his work and cared deeply for his customers. He always went out of his way for every one. I have been especially impressed with the care he gave to elderly customers. He would call them by name and let them know how happy he was to see them. I was in recently to get a prescription filled, he would call these people by name, and addressed them as if they were the most important people in the world. You could see by their expressions how special he made them feel. He also went out of his way to ensure our needs were met. He was indeed a special person, who will be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.
I was the photo manager at Dougs store for about 8 mots. About two weeks after I transferd I heard about his passing. I want to send his family my deepest smypothy. I liked Doug verry much. He was a good friend and co-worker. He was one of the verry few Eckerd Pharmists that would fill pre-mature babies medicens. My son’s a pre-mee and he did his best to get the medicen out ahead of anyone elses. Doug will be miss by me and a great deal of other people that had the chance to work beside him. Doug had a way of making people laugh at anytime with his humor. I will rember one memory where I opened the bathroom door and doug was poring out his lunch dish in the tolit. I told him I was never going to to eat at his house because I know where he washes his plates. He just always laughed and threw a joke back at me. To all of his family, God Bless and stay strong. Doug would have wanted you to.
I had the pleasure of working with Doug on several occasions at Eckerds #1120 in Morganton. He was an excellent pharmacist with a wonderful spirit. He will sincerely be missed by all who knew him.
Betsy Morrison
I went to my first dance with Doug Smith. We were so young we had to go with Doug’s parents. It was to a Demolae Dance. We went as friends. Doug was such a nice young man. We were classmates throughout our school years and graduated together from Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond, Virginia, in 1961. Even though I had not seen Doug in over 40 years, when I heard about his death, I was very sad for his family. I just wanted to tell Doug’s family how special Doug was when we were young together.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you the family.
Doug was a great person who I thoroughly enjoyed working with.Everytime I was in the store you could tell how well he was liked by his co-workers and the customers.I would always see him helping and giving advise to someone.He was nice to everyone.Doug will be missed and always remembered by us all.I will always have fond memories of him.
Doug was a great person who I thoroughly enjoyed working with.Everytime I was in the store you could tell how well he was liked by his co-workers and the customers.I would always see him helping and giving advise to someone.He was nice to everyone.Doug will be missed and always remembered by us all.I will always have fond memories of him.
I knew Doung only as a pharmasist, we worked together a few times over the years. I have filled in at his store a few times and he has come to our store . When I first started filling in, I was a new assistant manager and he helped me to feel comfortable at his store and with the other employees.
He allways had a smile on his face and was allways warm and helpful to everyone he came across. I knew little of Doug’s personal life, or of his family, but i do know all who knew Doug will miss him, especially his loved ones. A great deal of sadness as comeover our lives, and hopefully with time the pain will be eased.
I know that he is in a much better place now. Doug will be missed, my heart goes out to his family and close friends. I am truely sorry that I will not get the chance to know him better, but I want to thank him for his kindness.
Sincerly
Scott Barbour
With kindest regards to all family members of a fine gentleman. Our fortune was in knowing him.
Always a pleasant, friendly and approachable gentleman and pharmacist associate. Always avaliable for help or information or assistance in professional matters. I was his trainer for 2 weeks when he first came to Eckerd, and was myself rewarded by the daily association with him and his sense of humor, his deep intellect and his gregarious spirit and attitude. It will not be the same without him in his normal work place.
Doug was our family’s pharmacist and also served many of my patients. As a psychiatrists many of my patients are distressed at the time they are filling their prescriptions. Doug was always patient and kind with all of us no matter how busy he was. He always had a kind word and a smile and you don’t get that many places any more. We will all miss him. You are all in my thoughts and prayers as you grieve this tragic loss. Know that many in the community are grieving with you.
Having known Doug as another pharmacist, I am grieving with many others our great loss. He always responded to me with kindness, caring, generosity, thoughtfulness, honesty and humor. Working nearby, I communicated with him often and he was always pleasant, forth right and helpful. He had a unique way of imparting a comfortability that freed those he interacted with to ask questions, learn and be a part of. I know I am fortunate to have known him and I will miss him a great deal. I also know that, having known him, he’ll always be there, as I remember.
My condolences to his family and all who loved him.
Doug was a very wonderful and friendly person. We will all miss him greatly. May he rest in peace.
In a world where there are few gentlemen, ‘Doc’ Doug was a true ‘gentle man’ to myself, my wife Debra and our daughter Katherine. Quick with a smile, a handshake or an amusing slight-of-hand; he was always a pleasure in our daily lives. Our world shrank the day we learned of his untimely demise. Yet our hopes for the future are stronger for having known him.
Such a great man and friend. Doug always had a kind word and helpful spirit. He always had a solution for me to try when I would pick up my perscriptions and have something that was ailing me. The most recent was the reoccuring fever blister I kept getting. He told me his daughter said she always applided an ice cube to hers at the onset of one. I want to say thanks for the many solutions you gave me. Most of all I want to say thanks for being such a good person and my thoughts and prayers go out to the Smith family. God bless all of you and remember time heals all pain. Hold on to each other and keep His spirit alive.
An example of one who lived life to the fullest, exprssing kindness and caring to all he encountered along the way. A true friend to many. While his untimely departure saddens family & friends, we can be assured that Doug is taking full advantage of this new journey of the spirit. Farewell, my friend, go with God. Be at peace.
I had the pleasure of working with Doug at 2408 and 1223. He was such a caring and funny man. Occassionaly he would come to work at the store I am in now and he never failed to throw up a hand and say’Hey’! Always friendly and with a smile. He will be greatly missed. I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to know him. My deepest sympathy goes out to his family. God Bless! Deborah Parker
DOUG CAME TO OUR BOJANGLES EVERY MORNING ON HIS WAY TO WORK, AND WAS ALWAYS CHEERFUL AND VERY SPIRIT UPLIFTING. HE IS GREATLY MISSED BY ALL OF US.
Doug will be greatly missed by
me he always went the extra mile with filling my medicine.
I knew Doug only as my pharmacist–but I considered him a friend. He always went the second mile to be sure a prescription was just what was needed and would call my doctor when necessary to check on things. He was a caring, concerned man who seemed to have a sincere love for people. I’ll miss seeing him at Eckerd’s. His family will be in my thoughts and prayers.
I met Doug, better known as PA, a long time ago when they first moved here. He was a very nice and sweet man. I have nothing but the fondest memories of him. He will be missed. My thoughts and warmest wishes are with all the family.
Though I didn’t know him well,Doug was one of the most pleasantly unforgetable people I had ever met.
Knowing Doug and learning what a wonderful man he was; is something I shall never forget. He will be missed by all that had the pleasure of knowing him.
Deepest sympathies to his family and friends.
Doug was a very kind and compassionate pharmacist. He will truly be missed. May God provide peace and comfort to Doug’s family during this difficult time.
Dough Smith always had a smile for everyone no matter how busy he was. One day I thanked him for keeping such a calm manner when every thing aroung him seem to be spinning out of control. He smiled a wide smile and thanked me for the comment. I will always remember his smile.
BLESSED ARE WE WHO HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEFRIENDING DOUG SMITH, AND HENCE, GRAVELY SADDENED BY HIS UNTIMELY DEPARTURE. TO HIS CHILDREN-I’M SOOO SAD FOR YOUR LOSS ..BE STRONG IN YOUR GRIEVING (ALTHOUGH EASIER SAID THAN DONE, I KNOW). HE WOULD HAVE WANTED YOU TO HOLD TIGHT TO YOUR GOALS AND ASPIRATIONS, AND NOT LET ANYTHING STAND IN YOUR WAY.SO OFTEN WE JESTED ABOUT OUR 5 KIDS AND LAUGHED AND COMPARED NOTES ABOUT HIS..OUR 5 YR OLD GREW TO LOVE HIS TRIPS TO SEE ‘DR DOUG’..WHO, IN FACT, TAUGHT HIM HOW TO TAKE MEDICINE..AND COUNSELLED HIM ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THOSE FLINTSTONE CHEWABLES 🙂 HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN SUCH MALICE IN OUR WORLD TO AN INNOCENT 5 YR OLD? I TELL HIM THAT DR DOUG ISN’T CLIMBING THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTH CAROLINA ANYMORE..HE IS CLIMBING CLOUDS IN HEAVEN WITH GOD AND FLYING WITH THE ANGELS. THAT SEEMS TO SUFFICE FOR NOW.
TO ALL OF OUR ‘EXTENDED FAMILY’ AT ECKERDS…WE SHARE IN YOUR PAIN…AND RECOGNIZE THE HOLE YOU MUST FEEL IN YOUR HEARTS, AS WELL AS IN YOUR STORE, WITHOUT DOUG THERE TO BRIGHTEN AND LIGHTEN YOUR DAYS.NOONE WILL EVER FILL HIS SHOES..OR HIS LAB COAT!GOD BLESS, AND BE STRONG EVERYONE…DOUG WOULDN’T HAVE HAD IT ANY OTHER WAY!!
🙁 WE MISS YOU DOUG 🙁
I will miss you Doug.
My deepest sympathy to All the family members.
Doug was my first love and will always have a very special place in my heart.
Dear Doug: I’ve often thought of you over the years since high school and was really glad to see you when you come to Charlottesville. You were always one of the nicest people I ever knew, loyal to your friends and generous with all. I cannot tell you how shocked I am to find out what happened to you. I find it unbelieveable that anyone so warm and thoughtful could come to such a strange ending.
I will think of you often. I wish that you and I and Jimmy could have had one last visit to talk of old times. My deepest sympathies to your family and friends who will miss you so much.
Dickey
Uncle Dougie,better known as my favorite uncle. Words cannot express how much you have always meant to me. You and I had a special way of understanding each other and I will truly miss having you to share things with. My kids will always have fond memories of you and how much fun you were to be around, and how cool it was to have an uncle that could pull a rabbit out of a hat!! When we first heard of our Uncle Dougie’s death, we were over taken with grief, and then I asked Chad, what would Uncle Dougie want us to do??? and he said to laugh!! You are very missed and we will always love you, until we meet again!!! Ellen, Billy, Will, Chad and Daniel