Horace Smith

Horace William Smith, Jr., affectionately known by his family as "Sunnyboy" and by his friends and associates as "Smitty", peacefully departed this earth on January 25,2018, the forty-second anniversary of his Fathers' passing. He was born on July 28, 1933 in Washington D.C. to the union of Horace W. Smith, Sr. and Fanny Jane Coleman and was the oldest of six children. At a young age, the family moved from Washington, D.C. to Kansas City, Missouri where Horace spent his entire life. Horace attended R.T. Coles Vocational and Junior High School.

After high school he enlisted in the United States Army where he served in Combat Service Support units as a truck driver and later as a front-line infantry soldier during the Korean war from July 28, 1950 to July 30, 1953. He is a veteran of the amphibious assault at the strategic port of Inchon, Korea in 1950 that enabled American-led U.N. forces to break North Korean supply lines and push inland to recapture Seoul, the South Korean capital that had fallen to the Communists in June. The landing at Inchon changed the course of the Korean war.

After being honorably discharged from serving his country, Horace worked several jobs. He believed in hard work and it was not uncommon for him to work two jobs to provide for his family. In the 1970's he found a passion for working outdoors as a professional window cleaner with Kansas City Window Cleaning Company. After spending over a decade at the company, he acted on his entrepreneurial calling and founded a business with his namesake; Smitty's Window Cleaning Company. His business was so successful that he nearly had a monopoly on window cleaning services in Kansas City. When the owner of Kansas City Window Cleaning Company took ill with cancer, he asked Horace to take over his business. Horace merged the two businesses and sealed his fate as the owner of the best window cleaning company in Kansas City! He continued to work for over 30 years until his retirement, but not until after he had recruited several family members to learn and work various aspects of the family business. One of his most harrowing experiences came in May 1970 when he was rescued by fire fighters from the eight floor of a downtown Kansas City office build ing after scaffolding supporting him and his partner on the outside of the building collapsed. He often recalled the news footage and newspaper stories that documented his determination as he clung for his life.

Horace had a big and contagious personality! It was easy to be intimidated by his presence, persona and his booming voice. However, everyone knew that once you got to know him, he had a soft heart, was generous and loved engaging in conversation particularly current events. He was a news junkie and a political affairs buff who was active in all types of community organizations to which he volunteered his time, talents, and treasure. For over twenty years he served as a Boy Scout Leader with the Tribe of Mic-O- Say Heart of America Boy Scout Council. He was active in the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) through the entire time his children were in school. He was a chaperone for the Drum Core at Zelia Mae Moten Dance School in Kansas City and was a very active member of the Van Horn High School Booster Club. Horace and his father were members of Mount Read Masonic Lodge and spearheaded efforts to successfully rename the Wayne Minor Health Center in honor of his father who served as a long-time Board member. If you needed anything, Horace was always willing to help. He was a rock for family and friends alike. In 2014 he was honored as an Unsung Octogenarian Citizen by the TJB Foundation.

Horace was an avid Kansas City Chiefs football fan and a season ticket holder for over 45 years. As a diehard fan of the Chiefs, he traveled all over the United States and as far as Hong Kong and Germany to watch and support his favorite team. On any given day he could be seen wearing Chiefs related clothing from jerseys, hats, house shoes and watches. He was a long-time member of Gregg Tabernacle African Methodist Episcopal church in Kansas City where he served as a Trustee and a member of the Lay Organization. He also frequently attended Swope Parkway United Christian Church. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends at cookouts and boating excursions. He also enjoyed watching movies and other sports, playing cards, and traveling. Horace married Dorothy Neal in 1963 and for thirty-six years they raised a family of five children making sure, they were provided for, had opportunities to go to college, and were loved. From this union are Glenn H. Haygood, Darian Smith, Cedric Smith, Kimberly Smith, and Brian Smith.

He found love again when on July 26, 2015 he married his long-time girlfriend, Nancy Griddine, with whom he shared his life. This union brought Todd Griddine and Termaine Griddine to make it a blended family. He was preceded in death by his parents Horace Sr. and Fanny; siblings Harry Smith, Herman Smith, Henry Smith, and Catherine Coleman.

Horace leaves to cherish his memory: Wife, Nancy Griddine Smith; sister, Sandra Smith; five sons, Glenn Haygood, Cedric Smith, Brian Smith, Todd Griddine (Shannon) and Termaine Griddine (Ebony); three daughters, Darian Jefferson, Kimberly Smith and Valerie Orlando; his nephew, who was like a son, John Coleman (Edith); five brother in laws, Charles Griddine of Overland Park, Kansas, Homer Griddine, Anthony Griddine, Thomas Griddine and Ernest Williams, all of the City and two sister in-laws, Nicole Williams of the City and Sherry Griddine of Overland Park Kansas, 18 Grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.