Loving husband, father, and grandfather, David “RD” Smith, passed away with his devoted family by his side on Friday, the 15th day of November 2024, at the age of 78. He was born in Freer, Texas, on the 2nd day of September 1946 to parents Wayman G. Smith and Jean Wheeler Smith.
After moving from Freer to Palestine, Texas as a teen, David met Williestene, who became his wife after a year and a half of being high school sweethearts. It was important to them that they were married before the United States Army separated them. David was in Fort Hood for basic training, Hawaii for specialty training, and did a tour in Vietnam. After returning home, David took whatever job paid the most to provide for his family.
From being a lineman to working on offshore rigs, it was many years before he worked a job that didn’t come with “hazard” pay. Working in places such as Guatemala during their civil war and equally un-stable Libya and Venezuela never seemed to faze him. After his now family of four moved to Scotland with him while he worked offshore in the North Sea for a year, they decided to return to Palestine so David could spend more time with his loved ones and less time in dangerous situations. He once said, “I want to be home to see who is picking up my daughters for dates”.
In Palestine, David was able to resume his favorite pastimes. He was a competitive team roper and avid outdoorsman. Eventually these hobbies led him to a decade long career as a ranch manager. Life on the ranch bordered by the Trinity River was paradise for David. He could enjoy all his favorite things while getting paid to do so. Adventure was always to be had during these years, and David loved it.
There’s only a few things David loved more: his wife, Williestene Smith; his daughters and their husbands, Kristy Wages and Randy of Palestine, Texas, and Tiffany Martin and Reg Martin MD of Amarillo, Texas, and his grandchildren, Trevor Fillip and Kaylyn, Trent Fillip, Georgia Martin and fiancé John Branisa, and Meredith Martin, along with his step-grandsons, Matt Wages and Ben Wages. Being a grandparent brought out a softer side in David. He was happy to trade in hog hunting on horseback with his friends for BB gun target practice with his grandkids. David is also survived by his two sisters, Marilyn Carney of Tyler, Texas and Barbara Chambers of Ganado, Texas, in addition to other family members and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents.
Graveside services with Military Honors are to be conducted at one o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday, the 23rd day of November 2024 at Brushy Cemetery in Buffalo, Texas. Longtime friends Greg Chappin and Boyd Robinson will be officiating the service. There will be a reception following the service, with the venue to be announced.
David’s sons-in-law and grandchildren will serve as pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be directed towards Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch, 600 SW 11th Ave. Amarillo, Texas 79101-3228 or www.calfarley.org.
Funeral services for David “RD” Smith are in care of Rhone Funeral Home, 3900 S. State Highway 19, Palestine, Texas. Please visit his online memorial tribute at www.rhonefuneralhome.com, where words of comfort and condolence may be shared electronically with his family.
After moving from Freer to Palestine, Texas as a teen, David met Williestene, who became his wife after a year and a half of being high school sweethearts. It was important to them that they were married before the United States Army separated them. David was in Fort Hood for basic training, Hawaii for specialty training, and did a tour in Vietnam. After returning home, David took whatever job paid the most to provide for his family.
From being a lineman to working on offshore rigs, it was many years before he worked a job that didn’t come with “hazard” pay. Working in places such as Guatemala during their civil war and equally un-stable Libya and Venezuela never seemed to faze him. After his now family of four moved to Scotland with him while he worked offshore in the North Sea for a year, they decided to return to Palestine so David could spend more time with his loved ones and less time in dangerous situations. He once said, “I want to be home to see who is picking up my daughters for dates”.
In Palestine, David was able to resume his favorite pastimes. He was a competitive team roper and avid outdoorsman. Eventually these hobbies led him to a decade long career as a ranch manager. Life on the ranch bordered by the Trinity River was paradise for David. He could enjoy all his favorite things while getting paid to do so. Adventure was always to be had during these years, and David loved it.
There’s only a few things David loved more: his wife, Williestene Smith; his daughters and their husbands, Kristy Wages and Randy of Palestine, Texas, and Tiffany Martin and Reg Martin MD of Amarillo, Texas, and his grandchildren, Trevor Fillip and Kaylyn, Trent Fillip, Georgia Martin and fiancé John Branisa, and Meredith Martin, along with his step-grandsons, Matt Wages and Ben Wages. Being a grandparent brought out a softer side in David. He was happy to trade in hog hunting on horseback with his friends for BB gun target practice with his grandkids. David is also survived by his two sisters, Marilyn Carney of Tyler, Texas and Barbara Chambers of Ganado, Texas, in addition to other family members and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents.
Graveside services with Military Honors are to be conducted at one o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday, the 23rd day of November 2024 at Brushy Cemetery in Buffalo, Texas. Longtime friends Greg Chappin and Boyd Robinson will be officiating the service. There will be a reception following the service, with the venue to be announced.
David’s sons-in-law and grandchildren will serve as pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be directed towards Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch, 600 SW 11th Ave. Amarillo, Texas 79101-3228 or www.calfarley.org.
Funeral services for David “RD” Smith are in care of Rhone Funeral Home, 3900 S. State Highway 19, Palestine, Texas. Please visit his online memorial tribute at www.rhonefuneralhome.com, where words of comfort and condolence may be shared electronically with his family.
