Jimmy Smith
Jimmy Smith, 86, of Newport went to be with the Lord after a brief illness on Thursday, March 7, 2013 at Riverside Hospital in Columbus surrounded by his family. He was born on February 18, 1927, a son of Earnest and Clara Woods Smith. Jimmy proudly served his country in the United States Army Air Corps in WW II from 1945 to 1947. He was a millwright, retired since 1989 from Elkem and a proud member of the NRA and VFW Post 5108.
On May 29, 1947, he married Betty Lou Matheny who survives with 8 children: Marilyn “Susie” (Don) Thomas of Newport, Jimmy Darrell (Mary) Smith of Newport, Janet Brookover and her husband Albert Helou of Richmond, VA, Randall (Penny) Smith of Newport, Marvin (Chris) Smith of Marietta, Michael (Chris) Smith of Newport, Bryan Smith of Newport, Gary Smith and wife Kim Boley of St. Marys, WV; 18 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren and 6 great, great grandchildren.
Jimmy was a devoted family man, husband, father, grandfather and friend to all. He started working at Union Carbide, later known as Elkem in 1955. He fully enjoyed many retirement years. He was an avid gardener and hunter and passionately told stories of his hunting adventures. In his early years he was always there to help friends, family or neighbors with anything from repairing cars to plowing and harvesting gardens or whatever else they needed him for. In later years he enjoyed auctions and working with his tractor. He was loved by many.
He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Linda Taylor,son-in-law Steve Taylor, great, great granddaughter Sophia Thomas and siblings: Gordon Smith, Gilbert Smith, Betty Becker, Vera Eddy, Mary “Babe” Eddy, Jean Eddy, Elsie Smith, Evelyn Smith, Ada Smith, and Carl Smith.
Funeral services will be held on Monday (Mar. 11) at 10:00 am at McClure-Schafer-Lankford Funeral Home with Pastor Kelly Snyder officiating. Burial will follow in Newport Cemetery with full military rites. Friends may call at the funeral home on Sunday after 2:00pm with family present from 2-4 & 6-8. Messages of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.lankfordfh.com.