Clyde Corbin Smith

November 17, 1934 - September 3, 2025

Clyde Corbin Smith, 90, of Lexington, South Carolina passed away on Wednesday, September 3, 2025. He was born on November 17, 1934, to William Love Smith and Maxine Mae Corbin in Champaign, Illinois.

After graduating from Urbana High School in 1952, Clyde joined the Navy during the Korean War and spent four years serving his country and seeing the world. He returned to the States and enrolled in the University of Illinois on the GI Bill. He received his degree in Industrial Marketing.

He met and married Donna Schrag while in Sioux Falls, S.D. Their sons Mike and Nick were born in Columbus, Ohio. The family settled in Lexington in 1974 on beautiful Lake Murray. The boys remember them saying “this is it, we have found our forever home.”

In 1985, Clyde and Donna started their own small business – a flooring store on the corner of Main and Church Streets. Clyde was a strong advocate for small businesses and the health and vibrancy of Main Street Lexington. He also believed in giving back to the community where you made your living. He was a Rotarian for over 35 years and was active with the Lexington Chamber of Commerce.

Clyde enjoyed playing racquetball and was still playing with his longtime friends until cancer complications forced him to slow down. A highlight of each month was “The Thursday Night All Boys Choir:” playing cards, cooking and laughing with his friends for over 30 years.

Clyde talked openly about his sobriety. He quit drinking in 1984 “by the grace of God” and he never relapsed. He credited Alcoholics Anonymous and believed strongly in the program. The AA community supported him each week on his sobriety journey, and there are many folks whom he helped on their journey.

Surviving Clyde are his wife, Donna (Schrag) Smith; his sister, Camille Harmon (Dan); sons, Michael C. Smith (Jill) and Nicholas C. Smith (Becky); grandchildren, Colin Michael Corbin, Spencer Fontaine, and Sydney Nicole; step-grandchildren, Laura Grey Humphrey (Logan) and Meredith Humphrey (Tore); and great-grandchildren, Florence Eva Kot and Gwendolyn Grey Kot.

Clyde and Donna were married for over 63 years. She was the rock of the family. Clyde believed that laughter is the best medicine, and it made his day if he left you with a smile.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Lexington United Methodist Church, 309 East Main St; Lexington, SC 29072, with a reception to follow in Wesley Hall.

Memorial contributions may be made to Lexington County Choral Society, P.O. Box 1179, Lexington, SC 29072-1179 (https://lexcochoralsoc.org/contributions.php).