Winthrop Frederick Smith, 96, died Wednesday morning, November 12, peacefully at his home in Guilford, CT. He was born March 20, 1918 in Derby, CT., the son of Blanche Wells and Frederick Ephraim Smith. He received a BA from the University of Connecticut and a DMD from Harvard University. Having roomed with Norman Chello at the University of Conn., family owner of Chello's oyster house, he was offered a job shucking oysters back in Guilford, CT. This gave him the great fortune of meeting Peggy Bowles, the love of his life for 66 years. She was a waitress there at the time. In 1944 they were married. He joined the Navy, where he served on the USS Albany, the USS Chenango and the USS American Legion before settling in Guilford with Peggy. He spent over 20 years in the Navy as a dentist, and then had a private practice at their home on Long Hill Rd. He started and maintained a family Christmas Tree Farm since 1955. He worked the Christmas tree farm every chance he had while being in the service but spent considerable time among the trees while enjoying his quiet retirement. He served on the board of The Guilford Savings Bank in many capacities. He served on many boards in Guilford and the State, most notably the CT Christmas Tree Growers Association, the Shoreline Outdoor Education and the Hyland House. He was a member in the North Guilford Congregational Church. He was also very active in the hiking group for seniors; the Clamberers.

He leaves his children Jeffrey Smith of Huajuapan Mexico, Jared and his wife BJ Smith of Guilford, CT, Nancy and her husband Steve Detra of Guilford, VT, his grandchildren Matthew Smith and his wife Aya Bouchedid of Brooklyn, NY, Megin and her husband Jeff Cramer of Fairfield, CT, Elizabath(Liz) and her husband Ben Kweller of Austin Texas, Eliot and his wife Amber Smith of Butte MT., Colin Detra of Wilmington, MA and Nelly Detra of Guilford, VT, as well as 10 great grandchildren. He was blessed in having great friends and neighbors to assist him when needed. He was predeceased by his wife Peggy, a son David Smith, a brother Newell Smith and a sister Marjorie Howlett. He loved travelling, working outside and taking an interest in his family. In the final year of his life, he had a live-in caretaker, which gave him the luxury of living out his days in the home and on the farm he so much loved.

There will be a private family graveside service and a memorial celebration of his life in the spring. Arrangements are under the direction of the Hawley Lincoln Memorial Funeral Service. Memorial Contributions can be made to The Shoreline Outdoor Education, 730 County Rd, Guilford CT 06437 and The Hyland House, 84 Boston St, Guilford, CT 06437. To sign the online guestbook please visit hawleylincolnmemorial.com.