Ai Benjamin Smith, Ii

Ai Benjamin Smith, II joined his heavenly family on March 2, 2025. Ai was the beloved husband (74 years) of Ann Staley Smith, who predeceased him on February 12, 2025. They had three wonderful children, Susan (Darby) Smith, and Elizabeth Smith and they were preceded by their son, Ai. B. Smith III (Karen), in their death.

Ai was born on April 23, 1926, raised in Frederick and was the son of the late Howard Benjamin Smith and Jeannetta Geisbert Smith. He was preceded in death by his two sisters, Barbara Lee Smith, and Sally S. Thomas.

Ai had seven grandchildren Darby (Dawn) Smith, Kellie (Chance) Mason, Catherine Smith, Sarah Garland, Kira Gessner (Caleb), Anna Mikkelsen (Parker), and Samantha Smith. Ai also had four great grandchildren, Briley and Talon Mason, Ryker Tapley and Audrey Martin.
Ai served in the Army Air Corps in World War II as a tail gunner on the B-29 Superfortress and was a Colonel in the Commemorative Air Force. Ai was also a member of the American Legion, Post 11, Frederick, MD. His career was with the United States Postal Service, in Rural Mail Delivery, where he spent in later years as Director of State and National Labor Relations.

A memorial service will be held at a later date and will be officiated by Rev. Catherine Thompson of All Saints’ Episcopal, Frederick, MD, where Ai had been a long-standing member.

At Ai’s request, the memorial service will be a private service.

Anyone wishing to make a memorial contribution should do so to All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 106 West Church Street, Frederick, MD 21702 or Hospice of Frederick County, PO Box 1799, Frederick, MD 21702 or to the charity of your choice.