Deborah Knights Smith of Southport Island and Sanibel Island, Florida died on Jan. 31, 2026 at age 95. She and her late husband, L. Whitman Smith, were married for 61 years.

Debbie graduated from Beaver Country Day School and Stephens College where she enrolled in Stephens’ flight program and earned her private, commercial and flight instructor’s ratings and later continued to earn her instrument, multi-engine and seaplane ratings.

Upon graduating from Stephens College, Debbie was employed at Bedford Airport, (Hanscom Air Force Base), in Bedford, Massachusetts as a flight instructor and later returning to Stephens College as a flight instructor. She later returned to Bedford airport flying charter in a Beechcraft Bonanza.

In later years, Debbie worked for accounting firms in the Boston area.

Debbie loved sports and spent many years on tennis courts and golf courses.

She leaves her son Lyman Smith and his wife Lela of Lovell Maine, and their two sons Adam and Jonathan, of Fitchburg, Massachusetts and her daughter, Liana Smith Kingsbury and her husband, Don, of Pownal, Maine.

Donations in Debbie’s memory may be made to the Boothbay Region YMCA, 261 Townsend Ave, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538.