Phillip Gregory Smith

Phillip “Phil” Gregory Smith FLORENCE, S.C. – Phillip Gregory Smith, 70, husband of Ann Bell Smith, died in Florence on February 11, 2025. He was born September 20, 1954, in Asheville to the late Claude Boyd Smith and Alberta Vause Smith. After the family returned to Florence in 1968, Phil soon reflected his father’s fascination with all things mechanical. He seldom saw a piece of machinery he was not comfortable disassembling then reassembling, improving it in the process. As a pilot and certified aircraft mechanic, multiple generations of pilots knew Phil to be the go-to technician for fixed and rotary winged aircraft. He could even make a cantankerous British sports car purr like a kitten. In addition to his mother, he is survived by wife of 44 years, Ann Bell Smith; daughter Melanie (and Doug) Yengel of Hartsville; son Brian (and Katie) Smith of Lexington, SC; brother Barry (and Lynn) Smith of Hickory, N.C.; sister Donna (and Joe) Sallenger of Florence; 5 grandchildren: Blanton, Gavin and Callen Yengel of Hartsville; Beckham and Olivia Smith of Lexington, SC. Family will receive friends 1:30 – 2:30 PM Saturday, February 15, 2025, at Calvary Baptist Church with the funeral service to follow at 2:30 PM. Entombment at Florence Memorial Gardens Mausoleum will be private. Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.