Obituary
The Villages resident Bruce Smith, beloved husband of 41 years to Sharon Smith, father to daughters Cheryl LeClair and Dawn Pedraza, brother to Gary Smith, and grandfather to Michael Gregory, Christopher, Alexander, and Annalisa Pedraza, Angel Matos, and Genevieve Morales, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Monday, January 6th, 2025 in Fredericksburg, VA. He was 81 years old. A New York native born on November 18th, 1943 in Ithaca, he grew up in the small town of Etna and was a graduate of Dryden High School, Class of 1960 and relocated to Miami, FL in 1979.
Married to the love of his life, the former Sharon Pace, on July 11th, 1983, Bruce and Sharon retired to the Villages of Florida in 2006 becoming great-grandparents in May of 2020. Bruce and Sharon enjoyed traveling, card games, and spending time getting to know the children of their adult grand-children, Kalel and Kiara born to Angel and Manny Matos, and Violet born to Alex and Christine Pedraza.
An avid golfer and drag racing enthusiast who restored many vintage muscle cars as a hobby, Bruce’s gentle but competitive spirit endeared him to all who knew and loved him. Bruce’s compassion and love of life will be cherished by many life-long friends and family. Bruce is survived and cherished by his wife, brother, daughters, grand-children, and great grandchildren with whom he made many lifelong memories.
In lieu of funeral arrangements, his final resting place will be in the mountains of North Carolina on a final road trip with family.
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