Warren Coleman Smith, creative businessman
Warren Coleman Smith, 86, of Lewes, passed away Monday, June 25, 2012, at his residence with his loving family by his side, including Teddy Redwood, his beloved Springer. Warren was born in Manila, Philippines to the late Virginia Creary Smith and Col. Edwin Kennedy Smith.
The family was stationed in Panama, Georgia and New Hampshire. Warren attended Phillips Exeter Academy and graduated in business from Harvard. His first employers were Proctor and Gamble and Federated Stores in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he met and married Mary Lee Fulghum April 7, 1951. He then entered the life insurance business in San Antonio before moving to Baltimore, Md., where he lived until retiring to Lewes in 1992.
Warren’s greatest joy was in developing an idea and creating a business. Warren was a creative businessman, drilling oil and gas wells, developing a hotel/conference center in Shanghai, China, building Greenspring and Forty West Racquet Clubs, redeveloping an historic church and a firehouse in Baltimore, and he donated his time and expertise to build the parish hall for his beloved St. Peter’s Church in Lewes. Warren had many creative interests from beekeeping to winemaking, winning a five-state award for his wine. He was hands down the greatest story and joke teller and devoted baseball fan - he loved Dem O’s! His deep love of his country was very important to Warren.
He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Mary Lee Smith of Lewes; his son Warren C. Smith Jr. of Ft. Pierce, Fla.; his daughter Cissy Smith Marks, son-in-law Paul J. Marks, and granddaughter Lauren, all of Baltimore; grandson Warren C. Smith III, U.S. Army stationed in Hawaii; last but not least, his dear friend Teddy Redwood. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his youngest son, Stephen P. Smith in 2008.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, July 14, at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Second and Market streets, Lewes. Interment will be at St. Peter's Cemetery, Pilottown Road, Lewes. A reception will follow in the parish hall.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, c/o Outreach, PO Box 464, Lewes, DE 19958.
