David Carline Smith, 84, of Pembroke, died on Monday, July 13, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, at the home of his daughter. A native of Scottsville, Kentucky, he graduated from Allen County High School as the youngest member of his class, he enrolled in Western Kentucky University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history and economics. He began his teaching career at the age of 20 with the Christian County Public Schools and went on to complete his master’s degree in education at Austin Peay State University and his post-graduate work at Western Kentucky University. He retired from CCPS after more than 33 years. Upon retirement, he continued his teaching career at Hopkinsville Community College as well as their affiliate site at the Fort Campbell Army Post.

He was a history scholar with a keen interest in genealogy. He documented hundreds of African Americans interred across Christian, Todd, and Trigg counties in Kentucky, compiling the records into genealogical research volumes. Additionally, he cataloged funeral home death records for publication across many Western Kentucky counties. He was a member of the Hopkinsville Kiwanis Club, as well as a former member of the Hopkinsville-Christian County Public Library Board of Trustees, the Pennyroyal Area Museum Board and the Christian County Cemetery Board. He was also a communicant of Grace Episcopal Church.

A memorial celebration of life service will be at noon on Saturday, July 18, at Maddux-Fuqua-Hinton Funeral Home. A private family interment will be held at a later date. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the service hour Saturday at the funeral home.