Obituary of Edward E. Smith

Edward E. Smith of Maplewood, age 84, died at his home on Sunday, August 22.A native of Dunellen, he was the son of the late George E. and Helen H. Smith. He was a retired executive of AT&T, working throughout his business career in public relations at Bell system companies Bell Labs, Western Electric, Illinois Bell and AT&T Headquarters in New York City. During World War II he served more than two years in the US Marine Corps, seeing action at Okinawa and then was with post-war occupation forces in China. He received his journalism degree from Louisiana State University where he was managing editor of the campus daily newspaper and produced the country's only comic strip to appear daily in a college newspaper. Before joining the Bell system in 1956, he was was a reporter for newspapers in Louisiana and the Plainfield Courier News. A talented artist and cartoonist, his interest in drawing began in grade school and he continued producing cartoons throughout his life. His work appeared in comic books, newspapers, and many other business and community periodicals including Bell system publications and the Maplewood News Record. He was a contributor to the Wall Street Journal's daily "Pepper... and Salt" cartoon feature, with several of his cartoons reprinted in anthologies published by Dow Jones. He is survived by his wife of sixty years, Anne W. Smith, a son, Christopher, a daughter Margaret "Meg", granddaughter Mica , and sister Margaret Stephenson-Dahl. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Memorial Service at The Jacob A. Holle Funeral Home 2122 Millburn Ave, Maplewood on Sat, Oct 2nd at 1:30 PM. Gifts in his name may be made to the Friends of the Maplewood Library, PO Box 183, Maplewood 07040.