Fred "Top" Smith
May 29, 1934 ~ November 12, 2026
Born in:
Asheville, NC
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Asheville Butterfly TrailFred “Top” Smith, 92, of Asheville, passed away on November 12, 2026.
Born May 29, 1934, in Asheville’s West End, Fred was the son of Joseph Eric Smith and Lillie Ramsey Smith. He married Mary Jo Arrington on May 4, 1956. Together they raised three daughters, Donna, Rhonda, and April. Fred and Mary Jo celebrated 70 years of marriage this year, and he continued to call her his “girl” until the end.
Fred enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on September 22, 1952. After training at Parris Island, he served all over the world, including the Mediterranean, Puerto Rico, Japan, and Vietnam, where he completed two tours. He retired as a Master Gunnery Sergeant. When he met a fellow Vietnam veteran, he offered a greeting that mattered deeply to him: “Welcome home.”
From 1979 until 1996, Fred taught in Pisgah High School’s Navy Junior ROTC program, leaving a lasting impression on hundreds of students. Whether the cadets were preparing for drill inspection or rappelling down the side of a mountain, he instilled values of hard work, discipline and self-reliance. He hoped those lessons would prepare them for life in or out of military service.
He was a devoted member of the congregation at Zephyr Hills Freewill Baptist Church.
Fred grew up with little and took pride in providing for his family. Gruff and sparing with sentimental words, he showed his love by taking care of people. He especially enjoyed gathering his family at the lake house he bought for them, pulling his children and grandchildren behind the boat and grilling hot dogs and hamburgers to eat on the deck.
Fred had a knack for winning people over: he accumulated walking buddies, made friends at the flea market, and charmed every waitress he ever encountered. He had a wry sense of humor and always had a wink for Mary Jo. He never met a dog he wouldn’t slip a bite of food to under the table.
He loved to compete and was a tremendous athlete. He played baseball in the Marine Corps, pitching and playing first base. The Philadelphia Phillies scouted him, but minor league ball “paid $30 less a month than the Marine Corps.” Later he would coach Little League as well as Pisgah High School’s girls’ basketball team with an intensity and effectiveness only a Master Gunnery Sergeant could bring to youth sports.
Fred was preceded in death by his dear infant son Frederick Michael; his parents; his sisters, Kate and Frances; his half-brother, James; and his beloved uncle and aunt, Jesse “Granny” Coleman Metcalf and Mattie Metcalf.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Jo; his daughters, Donna Franklin, Rhonda Brooks, and April Conner and her husband, Greg; his grandchildren, Toni Franklin, Luke Franklin, Mitchell Brooks, and Sophia Conner; his great-grandson, Connor Kirkland; his half-sister, Daisy Jo Keith; and his nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family will receive friends beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at Groce Funeral Home, 1401 Patton Avenue, Asheville. The funeral service will follow at 12:30 p.m.
Burial with military honors will take place at 2:00 p.m. at Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery, 962 Old US Highway 70, Black Mountain.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Fred’s memory to the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Services
The Family Will Greet Friends: November 17, 2026 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Groce Funeral Home - Patton Ave.
1401 Patton Ave.
Asheville, NC 28806
(828) 252-3535
http://grocefuneralhome.com
Funeral Service: November 17, 2026 12:30 pm
Groce Funeral Home - Patton Ave.
1401 Patton Ave.
Asheville, NC 28806
(828) 252-3535
http://grocefuneralhome.com
Burial: November 17, 2026 2:00 pm
Western Carolina State Veteran's Cemetery
962 Old US Hwy 70
Black Mountain, NC 28711
(828)669-0684
He was one of the absolute greatest and I will miss him terribly. May you rest in eternal peace, Fred.
Love to this wonderful family
Love to Mary Jo and extended family. The grace of God will carry you through.
Sounds like he was an amazing man. We thank him for a life well served and well done and thank him for his military service to our country
He became such a dear friend! Loved his hugs at church! He will be missed!
Pisgah High School Navy JROTC was the best time for me from the standpoint of accumulating treasures in heaven and as I think of what has really mattered in my life. Top was really the one that hired me, but only after I passed several of his rigorous inspections! For the initial years, he schooled me by example and turned my heart to focus on the life, training, and welfare of every student. His impression lasted all of the 20 years I served as an instructor. When he felt he could leave the program in my hands, he retired, we always kept in touch with lunches, phone calls, and Christmas cards until Joette and I moved to Florida. He was a best friend, and he called me that as well, an honor I treasured!
As a team, cadets responded to our leadership, they loved him especially because he set achievable standards and did not hold back, either from discipline needed or praise deserved. He was real and he motivated many extraordinary young men and women to be better, some to join the marine corps, to other services; they all excelled distinguishing themselves because of Top. He especially loved training male and female cadets in military drill; his drill team won competition after competition and proudly showed off their exhibition skills in meets, assemblies, and parades. He coached rifle team and together we took busloads of cadets on educational field trips to Washington DC, State Universities, Military bases, and many places. Together we started at BSA Camp Daniel Boone the Pisgah High School Basic Leadership Training Camp during summer where thousands of cadets from NJROTC units in many states traveled to attend to learn teamwork and self confidence in demanding but fun activities. The high level of cadet motivation and achievement due to his leadership in PHS NJROTC was continuously recognized by the U.S. Navy earning national rankings and awards.
As a Master Gunnery Sargeant on active duty, Top had a distinguished career. In war he led a special unit of South Korean soldiers and U.S. Marines in hundreds of the most demanding combat missions. He was recently honored in USMC graduation ceremonies as an honored guest. His service reputation is impeccable and admired.
On one of our field trips to NAS Pensacola, one of my best memories was both of us reading our Bibles and we prayed together before the cadet activities started. I am looking forward to continuing our friendship in heaven, he is present now with Jesus. Thanks for letting me share some highlights of my memories with a great man and friend Master Gunnery Sargeant Fred Smith. May God comfort you and bless you. Jim Humphrey aka Captain.