George A. Smith

OXFORD - George Austin Smith, 95, of Talbot County, died on Monday, Jan. 22, 2007, at the Chesapeake Woods Center in Cambridge.

Born in Oxford Sept. 21, 1911, he was the son of the late George Turner Smith and Eva Harrison Smith.

On Sept. 21, 1935, he married the former Margaret Wilson Saulsbury. She died in March 1992.

He was employed for many years with Bay Shore Foods as a Maintenance Supervisor until his retirement.

"Mr. Austin" as he was affectionately known by his friends, was a lifelong Oxford resident. He was active in his community, having served with the Oxford Volunteer Fire Company for 80 years. During his tenure with the fire company, Mr. Austin held every office in the company including the rank of Chief. He was recently honored as being one of the oldest living firelighters in the state of Maryland.

He was a life member of the Oxford Volunteer Fire Company, the Maryland State Firemen"s Association, the Delmarva Volunteer Firemen"s Association, the Eastern Shore Volunteer Firemen"s Association, and was a charter member of the Talbot County Fire and Rescue Association, He had previously held membership in the Easton Elks Lodge. He was also a member of the Maryland state, and Eastern Shore Volunteer Firemen"s Associations Hall of Fame.

He is survived by his daughter, Margaret (Peggy) Smith McCracken and her husband, Floyd of Oxford; grandchildren, George McCracken and his girlfriend, Rita Neal of Trappe, and Jane McCracken Yockey and her husband, Sam of East New Market. He is also survived by special nephews, Richard Smith and his wife, Cindy of Easton, and Phil Smith and his wife, Mary Ann; sisters-in-law, Cecilia Smith of Oxford, and Ellena Crosby of Easton, along with several other nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; brothers, David and Carroll Smith and sister, Margaret McKett along with an infant sister.

A visitation will be held on Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Curran-Bromwell Funeral Home, P.A., Cambridge.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home with the Rev. Denzil Cheek and the Rev. Frederick Bahr officiating. Burial will follow in the Oxford Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be fellow firefighters of different departments, Henry Hale, Rache Bane, Meg Stein, Carl Kirchoff, Fred McCracken Jr., Michael Larrimore, Richard Smith, and Bobby Quidas.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Oxford Volunteer Fire Company Building Fund, 300 Oxford Road, Oxford, MD 21654.