Jean Dow Smith was the fourth child of Aylwin Albert Belle Jackman Smith. He married Helen Barnes January 16, 1937 in Brighton, Colorado. They had two children Earline and James A. Smith. Prior to World War II he was the Boulder County, Colorado deputy tax assessor.

First Lieutenant Smith was one of fifteen airmen killed when U.S. Army Air Corps. B-29 Superfortress #44-61569 crashed at West Field, on Tinian Island, South Pacific.