Clinton Hamilton Smoke, Jr.

Clinton Hamilton Smoke, Jr. of the Deerfield Community passed away Wednesday, May 17, 2017. He was the son of the late Clinton Hamilton Smoke and Lillian Detthof Smoke of Norfolk, Virginia. He is survived by his sister, Emilie Jean Smoke of Norfolk, and his children: Kimberly Friedman of Roswell, Georgia, John Christopher Smoke of Jacksonville, Florida and stepson Robert Slater of Southern Pines, NC. He has three grandchildren: Samantha Smoke and Rachel Smoke of Raleigh, NC and Samuel Friedman of Roswell, GA. He was preceded in death by Judith McColl Smoke, his beloved wife of 22 years and his son, Clinton Hamilton Smoke III of Raleigh, North Carolina. Mr. Smoke was born in Iowa City, Iowa, and raised in Norfolk, Virginia. His education included a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Old Dominion University, a Master of Business Administration from the College of William and Mary in Virginia, a Bachelor of Arts in Fire Protection from John Jay College in New York, and a Master of Science in Telecommunications Management from the University of Southern Mississippi. He received a Coast Guard commission after graduating from Officer Candidate School and retired as a commander. A specialist in operations both in the coastal and offshore environments, Commander Smoke served on six Coast Guard Cutters, commanding four of them. After retiring from the Coast Guard, he began a career in fire protection, working at the National Fire Protection Association and in several community college fire protection programs. He launched and chaired the Fire Protection Program at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, retiring from that position in 2005. Concurrently, he served as chairman of the National Fire Science Curriculum Committee at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland. A volunteer firefighter for 30 years, he was a member of the Skyland Fire Department, a Certified Fire Protection Specialist, and the author of "Company Officer", a widely used textbook. After retiring a second time, he pursued many interests in the local community. He assisted with the United Way's annual campaign. He was a life member of the Military Officers Association of America and President of the Western North Carolina Chapter of that organization. He was a life member of the National Model Railroad Association and held memberships in the Southeastern Region, the Apple Valley Model Railroad Club in Hendersonville, and several railroad historical organizations. He was a former member of Central United Methodist Church in Asheville, Biltmore Masonic Lodge #446 AF & AM, the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, the Land of Sky Shrine Club and the Oasis Temple of the Ancient and Accepted Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. A memorial service is scheduled for 10:00 am Monday, May 22, in St. Giles Chapel on the Deerfield Campus. Interment will be in the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery at 12 noon on Monday. Military Funeral Honors will be provided by the U.S. Coast Guard Funeral Honors Team and Masonic Rites will be provided by the Biltmore Masonic Lodge #446. The lodge will open at 11:00 am. Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family.