Russell H. Smith

WORCESTER - Russell H. Smith Jr., 92, passed away peacefully under the loving care of his family and the staff at the Knollwood Nursing Center on Friday, October 3, 2014. Born in Worcester, Russell was the son of Russell and Elsie (Manning) Smith and lived many years West Brookfield and Worcester.

Russell completed high school in West Brookfield and took a year at Exeter academy where he did well enough to enter Princeton University in 1940. After finishing as a Phi Beta Kappa at Princeton he joined State Mutual Life Assurance Co in Worcester MA. Several months later he entered the U.S. Navy and was scheduled to take part in the invasion of Japan on an LSM when WWII in the Pacific ended. Upon returning to civilian life he rejoined State Mutual, beginning a 50+ year career as an actuary. He began with technical support for product lines and progressed to larger issues like applying computer technology to the insurance business. He rose to become a Vice President in the company and found modifying and developing companies acquired by State Mutual to be interesting and challenging. As a young man at State Mutual he injured his shoulder in an informal basketball game and the trip to Memorial Hospital brought him into contact with an ER nurse, Frances Gullberg. They married in Nov 1948 and had 3 children and shared 66 years before he died.

In addition to his professional efforts, Russell supported a wide variety of educational institutions, he served on the Board of Quinsigamond Community College for example and supported the Governors Academy where his sons attended. He also served in local civic organizations, after retirement he worked with the Small Business Administration SCORE group in Worcester. He worked for the Edward Brooke senatorial campaign. In short, his quiet determination to support his country, community and family will be deeply missed.

His leaves his beloved wife, Frances M. (Gullberg) Smith; two sons, Perry Smith and his wife, Eva of Wellesley and Roger Smith and his wife, Judy of Hamden, CT; and a daughter, Nancy Smith of Millbury; and several nephews and nieces. He is predeceased by his sister, Shirley Crawford.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit with the family from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. followed by a memorial service at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 9, in the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made online to the Governors Academy, www.thegovernorsacademy.org . To share a memory or offer an online condolence please "Sign the Guest book" on this page.