Roland Smith

Roland T. Smith, M.D., 91, of Gulfport, died Friday, February 23,2007, in Miami, Florida.
Dr. Smith graduated valedictorian of his class at DesMoines East High School where he was also captain of the tennis team. He graduated from the University of Iowa and the University of Iowa School of Medicine in 1940. He served as an intern from July, 1940 until June, 1942, when he enlisted into the U.S. Army Medical Corps. As a flight surgeon, Dr. Smith actively participated in the Pacific Theater of World War II.
Following the war, he completed specialty training in surgery at Tulane University with the late Dr. Alton Oschner and at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. He practiced general surgery in Joplin, Missouri, from 1951 until retirement in 1982. While in Joplin, he introduced the concept of the intensive care unit and established one in each of the two local hospitals. He served as President of the local American Cancer Society and worked tirelessly for that cause.
He and his wife, Dorothy Annis Smith, moved to Gulfport, Mississippi in 1989. While in Gulfport, Dr. Smith was active in the Sons of the American Revolution. The couple attended St. PeteraÌ‚â‚â„¢s-By-The-Sea Episcopal Church in Gulfport. Following the destruction of their Second Street home by Hurricane Katrina, the Smiths moved to Miami, Florida.
Dr. Smith was preceded in death by his parents, Edward Smith and Ethyl Smyth Smith, brothers Edward and Laurence Smith, and his wife of 63 years, Dorothy Annis Smith.
He is survived by three children, Dr. R. Theodore Smith (Paula) of Chappaqua, New York, Dr. Jason V. Smith (Barbara) of Gulfport, Mississippi, and Dr. Constance Myers (Eric) of Miami, Florida, and four grandchildren, Emily, Pearson, Lisa and Teddy Smith.
Funeral services were held on Friday, March 2, 2007 at St. FaithaÌ‚â‚â„¢s Episcopal Church in Miami, Florida. Burial will be at the Biloxi National Cemetery in a private service at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to St. PeteraÌ‚â‚â„¢s-By-The-Sea Episcopal Church Building Fund, 1304 E. Pass Road, Gulfport, MS 39507.
The Riemann family's GULF COAST FUNERAL HOME, Three Rivers Road Chapel in Gulfport is in charge of local arrangements and an online guestbook may be signed at www.gulfcoastfh.com.