Dr. Ronald L. Smith, 77, of Chattanooga passed away Wednesday, Oct. 16. He was born Jan. 22, 1947, in Greensboro to the late Clarence and Fronie Smith. He studied at Auburn and received a B.S. in Mathematics, graduating Summa Cum Laude. He then studied at University of California at Riverside, where he earned his M.S. in Mathematics before returning to Auburn. While at Auburn, he went on to obtain both an M.S. in Industrial Engineering, and his Ph.D. in Mathematics. He taught at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff for four years before returning to the southeast to work at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he taught for 35 more years, retiring as Professor Emeritus. He was passionate about his research and published 37 papers and two books, and was named to the Thompson- Reuters Original List of Highly Cited Researchers. In addition, he delivered 26 presentations, refereed six journals, and organized three conferences. In honor of his retirement, colleagues organized a conference in his honor, “Recent Advances in Linear Algebra and Graph Theory.” He was also an avid duplicate bridge player for more than 50 years. Along the way, he won two National Championships and held the rank of Grand Life Master. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Richard Smith and Robert Smith, and one sister, Ruth Johnson. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Linda Smith; his children Kevin George, Brad George, Reid Smith, and Sarah Adams; his grandchildren Jeremy George, Samantha George, Hayden Adams, Oscar Deist, Wynn Deist, and Marshall Adams; his great-granddaughter Marietta Grant; and beloved friends. The family received friends on Sat., Oct. 19 at Chattanooga Funeral Home North Chapel, Hixson. A memorial service was held on Saturday in the funeral home chapel. Interment followed in Hamilton Memorial Gardens. Those wishing to make memorial contributions in his honor can make those to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (https://www.michaeljfox.org) or to Fairview United Methodist in Hixson (3901 Hamill Rd, Hixson, TN, 37343). Arrangements were by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson.
