Andrew "Andy" Fletcher Smith Jr.

Andrew “Andy” Fletcher Smith, Jr. of Gainesville, Virginia, passed away at his home on December 31, 2024. Andy is survived by his son, Kevin Smith (Rosanna), brother Wesley Smith, sister Andrea Pinard, former wife Nancy Smith Calabrese, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by siblings Joma Lee Anderson, Tommy Smith, and Bradley Smith. Andy was the son of the late Andrew “Buster” Fletcher Smith, Sr. and Shirley L Wrenn Smith of Gainesville, VA. He was born in Arlington, VA on October 24th, 1948. Buster Smith was a Construction Engineer for C&P Telephone Company (Verizon) and tasked with bringing phone service to rural West Virginia. As a result, Andy spent much of his early years living in many a West Virginia town before they settled in Annandale, Virginia. As the oldest son and oldest grandson to a farming family, he was the primary source of “free labor” and spent his available time working on the two family farms in Gainesville. He attended W. T. Woodson High School, transferring his senior year to the new Thomas Jefferson High School, where he graduated in 1966. Andy followed in the family footsteps and joined C&P Telephone Company, where he had a full working career, retiring from Verizon in 2001 with many resulting friendships that lasted a lifetime. Andy was content with simple things and spent the last 50 years of his life living on Artemus Road in Gainesville, with half of that at the family farm he so loved. There he’d welcome many friends and family to what was known as “the shed” he built all from salvaged materials. He was a jack-of-all-trades for sure and a master of some. He loved woodworking in particular, especially making furniture from black walnut trees that had fallen on the farm. He was generous with his skills, gifting many of his pieces over the years. In addition to creating one-of-a-kind furniture, he had knowledge and patience enough to fix most anything, so there was never a shortage of requests for furniture repairs. Andy had a passion for bluegrass music, collecting old cars, playing poker with his close friends, and back in the day, drinking Budweiser. He loved a good party too and was always among the ‘last men standing’. And if there was music, Andy was sure to dance, surprising many with his natural rhythm. The garden was also a source of enjoyment for Andy, and it served as an activity to do with Rosanna and Kevin, and so he could share the harvest with neighbors, family, and friends. Although he couldn’t eat any of the food for the last 18 years, he still imparted his generational wisdom, every year ordering seeds, helping to till the soil, planting and laying out the tomato cages. Among his favorites were German striped tomatoes, cressy greens, cabbage and the annual tradition of planting sweet corn on Father’s Day with Kevin. Throat cancer hit him hard in 2006, but he got a second chance at life with significant lifestyle changes that few would have adjusted to as well as he did. His last 18 years were full of medical ups and downs that slowed his hobbies, but he never once complained and just kept going. He was fortunate to befriend his next-door neighbors and was able to play “grandpa” during the last 8 years of his life which brought him great joy. God did not make a better friend than Andy Smith. He was loyal, generous with his time and possessions, and as trustworthy a man as you could find. He will be deeply missed by the family and friends who loved him, and who are fortunate to have many great memories to draw upon. Andy is being cremated and will be interred at Sudley Cemetery in Manassas, VA in the spring. Kevin and Rosanna will have a Celebration of Life for Andy at their Artemus Road farmhouse on Sat 5/3 starting at 12:00PM ET with a short program beginning at 2:00PM. All are welcome. Address: 5608 Artemus Road Gainesville, VA 20155 Additional details will be shared via email. If you would like to receive and haven't already shared your email address with Kevin, please do so at smittynro@msn.com. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to Cancer Research Institute (https://www.cancerresearch.org/) or planting a memorial tree in memory of Andy (https://www.plantmemorialtree.com/).

Andrew "Andy" Fletcher Smith Jr.

October 24, 1948 - December 31, 2024