Tom Allin Smith Jr.

Tom Allin Smith Jr. died June 18, 2016, at the Missouri Veterans Home, Warrensburg, MO, where
he lived for the past two and a half years.

Tom was born on March 2, 1933, often referred to as the day the banks closed, a time that influenced his determination, persistence and ambition to provide for his family. His parents were Tom A. and Aileen Hutchins Smith. Tom was an adoring husband and he is survived by his wife, Janet Gardner Smith.
Tom was a devoted father to his four girls, nine grandchildren and one great grandson: Laura (Benny Fillmore), their children Herman, Helen, Hunter, Hale, and grandson Memde:wi; Melissa Smith (Aldo Rigamonti), and their son Thomas; Julia Smith, her children Julian, and Margot Naber; Jennifer Smith, her children Jonah, Grace Fortier. Tom also leaves one brother, Michael Dale Smith, and his children Tracy Beck and Tim Smith; and brother in law, James E. Gardner Jr.

Tom graduated from William Chrisman High School in 1951, where he played basketball on a winning team. He worked the following summer in Rocky Mountain National Park and climbed Long’s Peak, an accomplishment that shaped his life. With his love for travel, and his adventuresome, entrepreneurial spirit, he always searched for another mountain to climb in the world or in life. He attended the University of Missouri and remained a life-long Tiger fan. He was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. Tom joined the Navy after two years of college and became a Naval aviator, flying the F2H Banshee jet from aircraft carriers. Following his service years, Tom returned to school on the GI Bill and finished at the University of Denver, after marrying Janet in 1958. He later went to Baker University and obtained a Masters of Liberal Arts degree in 1991.

While finishing college in Denver, Tom began selling water softeners door-to-door in an area that already had reasonably soft water. Tom realized that he had a talent for sales. In 1967 he started his own company, Information Products Inc., selling peripheral computer equipment. For 35 years he successfully grew his business in data communications and networking, selling products and services throughout the Midwest. As president of Information Products Inc. he established a technical engineering scholarship at UMKC and made a significant contribution to Hope House in Independence.

He served as a volunteer in the International Executive Service Corps in Nairobi, Kenya; Cairo, Egypt; and Yekaterinburg, Russia, helping high-tech companies in developing countries. He was a member of the Independence Rotary Club and, not surprisingly, chaired their travelogue series before there were videos and television channels to see far-away places. His love of travel took him all over the world including a month long trip around the globe with TWA frequent flyer miles. Friends and family remember sailing oceans with “Captain Tom”, skiing mountains, camping in Alaska and state and National Parks, going to MU football games, and listening to his favorite music--everything from Herb Alpert to Dixieland.

He coached his daughters’ basketball teams, and was known to interrupt business trips to return home for games. Later, he would make it a priority to see his grandchildren play basketball as well. Every summer at the Lake of the Ozarks, Tom enjoyed teaching his daughters to waterski and sail, and how to hold a Roman candle safely while setting off 4th of July fireworks off the docks. When Jan said she wanted to horseback ride across Ireland for her 50th birthday, Tom said he wanted to learn to ride and he went, too.

His idea of retirement was to live on the Plaza and eat at sidewalk cafes but he happily followed Jan to live on a farm in Cass County with horses and dogs. He often said, “It’s not at the end of the earth, but you can see it from here”.

Tom was naturally elegant, with a love of simple things. He was equally comfortable sitting on a rock in the middle of the woods or people-watching in the Piazzetta of Portofino. He often referred to the ancient philosophers to draw from their strength and he loved to remind us all that “Small is Beautiful”, that one should consume “everything in moderation”, and, above all, we should always display “consideration for others”. He was a great observer and he knew how to enjoy life. He loved good food, drink, and the ritual of meals, but if he didn’t have time to eat lunch, he would gladly settle for an ice-cream cone.

He was a member of the First Christian Church of Independence. A family graveside service is planned at a later date. Interment will be at Floral Hills East. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Veterans Assistance League, 1300 Veterans Road, Warrensburg, MO 64093, an organization that honors the veterans who have served our country and provides for special needs and enhanced quality of life at the Missouri Veterans Home.