Death Notice:  Daniel Bennett Smith, Sr.

Aberdeen Fire Department, Inc.

On behalf of the Officers and Members of the Aberdeen Fire Department, Inc. we are saddened to announce the passing of longtime Life Member, past-Chief and past-President Daniel Bennett Smith, Sr., affectionately known as “DB”, on September 22, 2022 at the amazing age of 100.  He was a member of the Maryland fire service for over 85 years, 70 of those years with the Aberdeen Fire Department.  He retired as career Chief of the Aberdeen Proving Ground Fire Department at the mandatory age of 55 after serving more than 25 years.

Chief Smith leaves a rich legacy of dedicated and selfless service.  He was a longtime MFRI Instructor and the recipient of the Maryland State Firemen’s Association (MSFA) Marbery F. Gates Service Cup, the MSFA Hall of Fame Award and the Harford Cecil Volunteer Firemen’s Association Hall of Fame Award where he served as a past-President.  In retirement he served for over 17 years as a Governor appointed commissioner on the State Fire Prevention Commission and received numerous other State and local honors.  During World War II he proudly served as a U.S. Marine and was awarded a Purple Heart after being seriously wounded in the Battle of Okinawa in the Pacific theater of operations.

Visitation will be held on Monday, October 3, 2022, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, and from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Tarring-Cargo Funeral Home, 333 S. Parke Street, Aberdeen, Maryland 21001.

Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, October 4, 2022, at 11:00 AM at the Grace United Methodist Church, 110 W. Bel Air Avenue, Aberdeen.  A reception will immediately follow in Fellowship Hall at the church.

Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date TBD.

Please continue to keep the Smith family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

For further information, please contact:

Russell Piper, President, at 10115@hcvfa.org or

Josh Montague, Chief, at 13000@hcvfa.org