Cecil Broyles Smith "C.B.", 93, of Spring City TN, died peacefully on May 25, 2022 surrounded by family at his son's home in Buford, Georgia.

He was born March 9, 1929, in Spring City, Tenn essee (Rhea Springs), the third child of Arthur Bryan Smith and Iva Lavonia Broyles. He was a 1946 graduate of Spring City High School, attended the University of Tennessee for one year then enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1948. During his 20 years with the USAF, he completed his Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering from Oklahoma State University and later went on to  earn his MBA from Georgia State in Atlanta.

He married Bonnie Jo Denton of Dayton, TN and together they raised two daughters, Lyn and Kim and one son, Bryan enjoying 60 years of marriage.

"C.B.", as he was nicknamed by his fellow airmen, was the first pilot to graduate from flight school without a college degree. As the Korean Conflict arose, he was immediately promoted to pilot of a B-26, rather than serve tenure as a co-pilot and was the first 2 nd Lieutenant and youngest to fly across the Pacific Ocean, then quickly dubbed 1 st Lieutenant upon arrival at K-9 Pusan.  Earning many accolades and medals, the highest honor was The Distinguished Flying Cross for bombing the largest ammo dump  in Ichon, North Korea. He continued to complete 55 night missions with the 729 th Bomber Squadron, 452 nd Wing. His service took him and his wife to Sculthorpe, England (19 th Tactical Recon Squadron, RB45 Reconnaissance Bomber) from 1954-1957; then onto seven U.S. State assignments where he tested 9 bomber and fighter planes. Captain Smith was then "hand picked" by General Robert Cardenas to go to Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa to test pilot the Republic F-105 Thunderchief  "ThunderThud"  (12 th Tactical Fighter Squadron) the first supersonic tactical fighter-bomber and single-engine combat aircraft in history.  Upon retiring as a Major in 1968, he was hired by Delta Airlines in Atlanta as an Airfield Planning Engineer. One of the many highlights was having the Savannah Airport Taxiway named after him.  Upon his 1993 retirement, Bonnie and Cecil decided to move back to a family home in Spring City on Watts Bar Lake.

His kind and generous heart, as well as his genuine smile, provided him with many close friends and loving family relationships.  He enjoyed traveling with family, refinishing furniture with his wife, admiring wildlife, playing bridge with his buddies and telling stories to anyone that would listen! He was a member of several Rhea County bridge clubs, the Buzzards Roost Social Club, and the Rhea County Historical Society. He also valued the genealogy side and was instrumental in compiling a book mapping all the cemetery plots for the entire county.

He was preceded in death by his father, Bryan; mother, Iva; brother, Art "Duane"; sisters Leota Lane and Sarah Stanley; and beloved wife, Bonnie.

He is survived by his sister, Sandra Rice (Jim); daughter Lyn Smith,  son Bryan Smith (Cindy), daughter Kim Brand (James); grandsons Ben Smith (Taylor), Michael Smith (Nikki) and Paul Smith; granddaughters Madison Cagle (Dustin) and Julia Smith; and great-grandchildren: Kensley, Riley, Kylie, Sloane, Phoenix, Joanna and Garrett; as well as numerous adoring nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, May 30, 2022 at 3:00 pm in the chapel of Vaughn Funeral Home with Rev. Paul Forgey officiating.  Interment with full military honors will follow in the Spring City Cemetery.  The family will receive friends Monday from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Rhea County Historical & Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 31, Dayton, TN 37321.

Vaughn Funeral Home, Spring City is in charge of local arrangements.  Please visit our website at www.vaughn-funeral-home.com to share memories and condolences with the family of Cecil B. Smith "C.B."