Coyner V. Smith
March 17, 1932 – June 19, 2024
Coyner Vinton Smith was born in Morris, Illinois on March 17, 1932. He lived in various communities in central Illinois, graduating from high school in Waverly, Illinois. He attended Illinois Wesleyan University in the school of music as a voice major.
In 1953 with the draft looming, Coyner entered the Naval Aviation cadet program. That took him to Pensacola FL and then on to Hutchinson, Kansas for advanced training. There he met Donna and they were married in 1955. They lived on Whidbey Island, Washington first. Coyner’s deployment took him for 6 months to Kodiak Island in Alaska. There he was flying a patrol plane going up to the Bering Sea and flying off the coast of Russia. They moved to Pensacola where he became a flight instructor. He taught one year of basic training, one year of acrobatics, and one year of instruments. Next they moved to Kenitra, Morocco where he became the air traffic control officer. He flew around the Mediterranean flying people to various stations. He flew nearly every week to Gibraltar. After 3 years, he was transferred to Lexington Park, Maryland to a transport squadron. He became an aircraft commander in the C-130 transport plane with numerous flights to the Caribbean and Europe delivering cargo and troops.
In 1965 Coyner left the Navy and moved to Overland Park, Kansas to begin a new career in the business world. He was eventually transferred to Omaha, Nebraska as a branch manager. After several years, Coyner decided to start his own business. He started the company, Better Business Equipment, selling copiers in 1968. This was well timed as copiers were just beginning to come into their own. The company grew and had 50 employees at the time of his retirement.
His major passions have been supporting the cause of refugee resettlement, starting scholarship program for minority students. playing the horses, and classical music.
SERVICES to be held on Friday, July 12th at 1:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 7020 Cass Street, Omaha 68132.
In Coyner’s memory, please wear bright colored clothing.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Smith Diversity Scholarship c/o Lutheran Family Services.
3 Comments
I also went to Waverly
Coyner was outstanding athletic and named all conferences his senior year
RIP Smithy
My husband Tom Weekly absolutely loved Coyner. I also really enjoyed meeting him and Donna. Such good people. Of all the dealers Tom worked with, he had so much respect for Coyner. My condolences on behalf of Tom who passed last September. I can imagine they are playing the horses together.
Coyner was a great man with a huge heart and a focus on generosity. I am sorry for your loss.
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