Walter A. “Smitty” Smith, age 79, of Beverly Hills, Fla., formerly of Newport, N.H., passed away Thursday, March 19, 2015, at his home.

He was born July 21, 1935, in Queens, N.Y., to Robert Walter and Gwedolyn (Crawford) Smith. He graduated in 1955 from Towle High School in Newport, where he played various sports. He enjoyed going to his class reunions. He moved to Florida in 1999.

He retired after 30 years from SCM Chemicals in Ashtabula, Ohio. He was a U.S. Navy Veteran, a member of the NRA, and was a great outdoorsman loving hunting, fishing and boating. He was an avid scuba diver, traveling extensively to some of his favorite places, such as Cayman Islands, Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas to enjoy his sport.

Walter is survived by two children, Tina M. Riddle of Kingsville and Sean Smith of Florida; one sister, Gwen (Robert “Buz”) Bernard; two brothers, Jack Smith and Edward (Linda) Smith; six grandchildren, Dakota, Dillon (Tiffany) and Dalton Riddle, Kaylee and Abby Smith and Joseph Davis; four great-grandchildren, Derek Riddle, Madison and Cason Powell and Joseph Davis.

Walt was looking forward to a trip to New England for his 80th birthday with his family. Happy Birthday Dad! We love you.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held 1 p.m., Friday, July 31st, at STRINGER FUNERAL HOME, 146 Broad St., Claremont, N.H.

Graveside Service with Military Honors will follow at Mountview Cemetery, Claremont.

Memorial contributions may be made to Paralyzed Veterans of America, National Headquarters, 801 Eighteenth St. NW, Washington, DC 20006-3517. www.pva.org.

In memory of Walter, Treat others as you would like to be treated.