Kathryne Craig Smith
August 28, 1922 ~ July 7, 2011
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Kathryne Taylor Craig Smith, a resident of Arbor Terrace of Asheville, died Thursday, July 7, 2011 at the age of 88. Kathryne Craig Smith was the daughter and eldest child of George Winston Craig, former state legislator, and Kathryne Taylor Craig and the great-grand daughter of Governor Locke Craig and Anne Burgin Craig. She always considered herself an Asheville native, but was born August 28, 1922 in Hickory, North Carolina at her maternal grandmother's home which is now the Harper House Historical Museum, and she spent her first month there. Her brother, George W. Craig, Jr. and sister, Mary Locke Craig Davis preceded her in death. Growing up she lived in Montford and in Beverly Hills.
Kathryne Craig Smith graduated Valedictorian from Lee Edwards High School in 1939 and with honors from Duke University in 1943. In 1945 she married Milton Graham Smith of Swannanoa, a graduate of the United States Naval Academy. While her husband was in the service they lived in Newport, Rhode Island; Norfolk, Virginia; and McAlester, Oklahoma. For a few years the family lived in Asheville and then when Milton Smith began to work for Douglas Aircraft the family moved to Charlotte, NC; Huntington Beach, CA; and finally to Titusville Florida. Her husband died in 1992. Kathryne Craig Smith lived in Titusville for forty years, returning in 2010 to her daughter's home and then to Arbor Terrace.
Kathryne was a member of the Pi Phi Sorority, a former member of the Junior Leagues of Asheville and Charlotte and the First Presbyterian Church of Asheville. She was a member and past president of the Royal Oak Women Golf Association of Titusville. Florida and a member of the Florida Women's Golf Association and participated as a volunteer in many PGA golf tournaments. She was proud of her hole-in-one, but most proud for sinking a thirty-foot putt for an eagle in a Best Ball tournament in Pebble Beach. Kathryne was an avid Bridge player learning to play at the Asheville Duplicate Tournaments during WWII and was a member of a bowling team in Charlotte, NC that won second place in the National Bowling Tournament. She was a devoted wife and mother who volunteered as Cub Scout leader, Girl Scout Leader, and numerous PTA positions.
Surviving are her three children, Kathryne Smith Alonso, of Asheville, Milton Craig Smith and his wife, Patricia Tyson Smith, of Plant City Florida and Linda Smith Carle and her husband Spencer J. Carle of Santa Ana, CA; five grandchildren, Kathryne Alonso Wigley and her husband, Todd Wigley of Blythewood, SC, David Craig Alonso of Brooklyn, NY, Andrew Craig Carle and his wife, Jodi Kittle Carle of Falls Church, VA, Captain Matthew Tyson Smith stationed in Okinawa, Japan and Dr. Trevor Craig Smith, 1st year resident at Shands Hospital in Jacksonville, FL; four great-grandchildren, Thomas A. Wigley, Jessica Kathryne Wigley, Leah B. Wigley and Annika Grayson Kittle Carle; five nieces, Frances Craig Davis Baldwin and her husband, Garza Baldwin of Charlotte, NC; Mary Locke Davis Macatee and her husband, George Macatee of Asheville, NC; Laura Littlejohn Rogers and her husband, Bruce Rogers of Richmond, VA; Elaine Littlejohn Gennett of Jacksonville, FL; and Elizabeth Littlejohn Barr and her husband, Thomas Barr of Asheville.
Services will be held Monday, July 11 at 2:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the American Cancer Society, 120 Executive Park #1, Asheville, NC 28801 or at www.cancer.org.
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I was very sad when I heard the news about Cousin Kathryne. She always treated me very kindly and I always enjoyed her fine personality and the nice chats we had. I will miss her greatly.