Born on May 10, 1916, in New Martinsville, West Virginia, 1st Lt. Joseph E. Smith completed his high school education in Louisville, Ohio, before earning both a B.S. and M.S. from Kent State University. He married Dorothy Uber on June 1, 1940, celebrating 51 and a half years of marriage. Together, they had five sons and eleven grandchildren.

Inducted into the military in 1939, Smith was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1941. By March 3, 1945, he was serving overseas with the 39th Bomb Group as a Flight Engineer with Crew 13. On May 5, 1945, he was promoted to Captain and took on the role of Group Flight Engineer.

After his military service, Smith enjoyed a successful career as an elementary school teacher and later as a principal for 23 years. His hobbies included sports, lay ministry, and lapidary work.