Thomas James Smith, 86, passed away peacefully on January 2, 2026. He was born on November 11, 1939, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Thomas was preceded in death by his father, Thomas Francis Smith; his mother, Helen Catherine (O’Halek) Smith; and his sister, Margaret Ellen (Smith) Glackin.

 He is survived by his beloved wife, Carolyn (Holloway) Smith, with whom he shared a life filled with love, laughter, and devotion. He was a proud and loving father to his three children: Tammy Toton (Jim Toton), Stacee Roff (Dave Roff), and Thomas Smith (Alice Smith). Thomas was a devoted grandfather to Melissa Rudolph (Skylar Rudolph), Deanna Beadling (Justin Beadling), Kyle Roff, Matthew Smith, and Kraig Roff, and a cherished great-grandfather to Harper Rudolph.

At the age of 18, Thomas proudly enlisted in the United States Army. By the age of 19, he became a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division, a role that reflected his courage, discipline, and dedication to service. He carried great pride in his military service throughout his life.

Known affectionately as “T.”, Thomas never met a stranger. He loved talking with everyone, made friends wherever he went, and had a way of lighting up a room. His distinct, contagious laugh and his gift for telling a good story brought joy to countless conversations and will be fondly remembered by all who shared time with him. He found joy in life’s simple pleasures, especially golfing, fishing, swimming in the pool, spending time with his family, and enjoying the companionship of his beloved dog, Zora.

Thomas dedicated many years to hard work and service beyond his military years. He was a production manager at Owens-Illinois, Inc./Anchor Hocking for 17 years, followed by 18 years as a maintenance mechanic with the Washington Township School District, where he was respected for his strong work ethic and dependability.

Thomas will be remembered for his friendly spirit, his love of conversation, his service to his country, and the genuine connections he made with everyone he met. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew him.

Farewell Tribute

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his viewing on Tuesday, January 13th, 2026 from 8:00AM to 10:00AM in the McGuinness Funeral Home- (Washington Township Location), 573 Egg Harbor Road, Sewell, NJ 08080.  Funeral Mass will follow at 11:00AM in the Church of the Holy Family Church, 226 Hurffville Road, Sewell, NJ 08080.  Interment to Follow in the Gloucester County Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Williamstown, New Jersey.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial contributions be made to Homeward Bound Pet Adoption Center, a nonprofit animal shelter in Blackwood, NJ, dedicated to providing a safe haven and care for

 homeless pets share the memories.

… share love … ShareLife at www.mcgfuneral.com