|
|
|
|
TCMA Industry News |
|
Joe H. Smith Passes Away |
|
Clifford Smith | April 8, 2018 |
|
|
 |
|
Joe H. Smith passed
away on April 2, 2018 at the age of 94 at his residence,
surrounded by family.
Joe was born in the small town of Nevada, Collin County, TX on
September 20, 1923 to Edgar and Clara Smith, the 8th child of 10
children. Joe grew up on the family farm during the Great
Depression. Joe was a Navy Veteran of World War II serving in
the Pacific. As an officer on the USS Star he piloted landing
craft in the invasions of Okinawa and Iwo Jima. |
When he returned from the war, he attended the University of Texas and
was a member of "The Cowboys" service organization, NROTC and Smith
House. He loved The University, and was a loyal and generous supporter
his entire life, like his brothers, Weldon, Ed and Max Smith. The
University is also where he met and fell in love with his wife, Mary
Margaret (Irish) O'Harra of Chicago and Carthage, Illinois. They married
in 1947, and soon moved to Houston where they raised their family of
three children – they celebrated 66 years of love and marriage.
In the 1970s, after working with his friend, Ernie Graham, Joe started his
own sales company for industrial materials for the foundry and steel
business – The Joe H Smith Company. While Irish was the first love of
his life, his company was the second. He went to work every day up until
the end. It was his great pleasure when his son Kent partnered with him
in the 1980's.
Joe always stepped up in the community serving as President of the River
Oaks Little League, Southampton Civic Club, Board member of The Briar
Club, President of Waller County Heritage Society, and President of the
Irish Setter Club of Texas. One of Joe's greatest accomplishments was
raising money and awareness for the University of Texas Health Science
Center - Consortium on Aging led by Dr. Carmel Dyer. Joe always
supported youth education/sports and this included niece's and nephew's
college dreams, students from Bellaire High School and the Bellaire Lady
Cardinals.
Joe is preceded in death by his wife, Irish, his brothers and sisters
Herman Smith, Merle Cole, Ouida Read, Weldon Smith, Emil Watkins, Edgar
A. Smith Ruth Smith, and; his daughter Cynthia S. Smith and his son Kent
H. Smith. He is survived by his sister Jean Allbritton of Houston and
brother Max Smith of Garland, as well as his son Christopher Sean Smith
(and wife, Helen) and Kent's wife Carolyn; Grandchildren Stirling
Alexander Smith; Aubrey O'Harra Smith Valadez (and husband Mario);
Alyssa Haskell Smith; Charles Clarke Smith; and Great Grandsons Maxx and
Blake Valadez and Great Granddaughters Alyssa and Kira Valadez.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be sent to the
University of
Texas Health Science Center – Center for Healthy Aging, Dr. Carmel Dyer,
6700 West Loop South, Suite 130, Bellaire, TX 77401.
The family wishes to thank the staff at The Forum, Evergreen Private
Care and Vitas Hospice for their compassionate care and support.
Published in Houston Chronicle on Apr. 8, 2018
|
|
|
|
|
