Stately Private Life and Quiet Career of Lon Hayes Smith

Basic Information

Biography

Lon Hayes Smith’s life was formed by regular labor and domestic anchors, and he chose the shadows above the spotlight. He was born on March 15, 1937, and was primarily reared by his mother, Avise Hayes Smith, in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. He worked full-time while pursuing his studies, eventually earning an MBA from American University, demonstrating his discipline and willingness to put in consistent effort.

Like many professionals in the mid-century, he entered the finance industry, developed a career, and advanced into senior positions over his adult years. After working with Paine Webber, Lon went on to become senior vice president at Morgan Stanley, where he retired in 2004. Decades of work in a tough field, an advanced degree earned while employed, and retirement following a lengthy tenure are all reflected in the data.

According to public records, he passed away on August 22, 2021, at the age of 84. He lived on family farmland and established a life of peaceful routines during his last decades on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. He was the type of person who anchors other stories rather than chasing them down; he was not a man of headlines.

Family and Personal Relationships

Family defined the architecture of Lon Hayes Smiths life. The marriage to Patricia Madelyn Dey produced a son, Whitney Sudler-Smith, born June 2, 1968. That union began in the early 1960s and ended in 1979. The second marriage, to Lindsley Wheeler in 1979, brought a new chapter, rooted on a family farm near Trippe Creek on the Eastern Shore.

The son, Whitney, later became a public figure in the entertainment world, while Lon himself remained private. The contrast is notable: one generation moves toward cameras, the prior generation keeps the lens turned away. Even so, family ties threaded both worlds. Lon and Lindsley built their life on the Wheeler family land and cultivated a domestic rhythm that prioritized place and continuity.

Career Details, Financial Profile, and Achievements

Lon’s professional life was steady and long. He spent formative career years at Paine Webber before moving to Morgan Stanley. At Morgan Stanley he reached senior vice president, a role that implies leadership, client responsibility, and a long track record of performance.

Key career points and numbers:

• Employed in investment banking for multiple decades.
• MBA attained while working, indicating concurrent career and education management.
• Retired in 2004 after a career culminating in a senior title.

Public records do not disclose detailed net worth figures. The available facts point to financial stability rather than flash. Retirement to a family farm on the Eastern Shore suggests a preference for landed stability. Achievements are practical: career longevity, senior professional rank, and the ability to retire into property and family life. These are achievements measured more in continuity than in trophies.

Recent Mentions, Public Visibility, and Media Context

Lon was cited in obituary notices and in family situations involving public persons following his death in August 2021. His connections to his ex-wife and his son Whitney, who gained notoriety on television, are the main reasons why the media is interested in his name. Lon is not known to have sought media attention or kept up a public social media presence.

The storyline is straightforward: public family, private man. Lon plays a significant role in background scenes of family history during times when his kid is the focus of the media. Instead of being a headline, he continued to be a constant tone.

Extended Timeline

This timeline reads like the spine of a quiet novel. Dates mark rites of passage. Numbers sketch a rhythm: eight decades lived, four decades of career, one retirement year that closed a professional chapter.

Character and Private Life

Lon’s life resembles a house built on long beams. He did not court notoriety. He studied while working. He rose through finance ranks. He married twice and raised a son who later worked in film and television. He retired to a farm. These are practical choices that portray a temperament inclined to stability, duty, and place.

An anecdotal note often appears in family recollections: he was an active golfer and at one point shot his age, a minor triumph that offers a human touch. Small victories like that fill the spaces between job titles and dates, and give a sense of a man who delighted in modest tests of skill. He favored domestic calm and maintained ties with family across decades.

FAQ

Who was Lon Hayes Smith?

Lon Hayes Smith was an American investment banker born March 15, 1937, who rose to senior vice president rank before retiring in 2004.

When did Lon Hayes Smith die?

He died on August 22, 2021 at the age of 84.

Who are the members of his immediate family?

His immediate family includes his mother Avise Hayes Smith, his son Whitney Sudler-Smith, his first wife Patricia Madelyn Dey, and his second wife Lindsley Wheeler Smith.

What was his professional career?

He worked in investment banking for decades at firms including Paine Webber and Morgan Stanley, retiring as a senior vice president.

Did he have any public achievements or awards?

There are no public records of major public awards; his achievements were professional advancement and career longevity.

Where did he live in later life?

He lived on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, on Wheeler family farmland near Trippe Creek.

How many children did he have?

He had one child, a son named Whitney Sudler-Smith, born June 2, 1968.

Did he have a public social media presence?

No, he maintained a low public profile and does not appear to have been active on social media.