G. W. Smith

G. W. Smith, 97, of Bryan passed away Saturday, April 14, 2018. Family graveside services were held on April 20 at Ridge Park Cemetery in Hillsboro.

G.W. loved life and, at 97, was reluctant to leave it. Feeling overwhelmed by the illness that began to signal to him the end, he was heard to say with tears, “It’s not that I’m afraid of dying. But I hate to leave this beautiful life that I’ve loved so much.”

Born and raised in the old Mayfield community of Hill County, Texas, G.W. grew up on a large family farm in King Cotton country. It was the time of the Great Depression, but he tells that he was never aware of it; the family lacked for nothing. Their father, Asa Edward Smith, and the other farm families in the area traded each other for whatever was needed. He was the second son of three brothers, Barney Smith, G.W., and Elton Smith, and one sister, Evelyn Smith Robertson, all passed now from this life.

Soon after high school, G.W. joined the U.S. Army serving during WW II from 1942–1946 with the 40th Infantry Division and assigned to the 160th Regiment. He and the 40th arrived in Hawaii in September 1942, and, according to G.W., the division enjoyed nine glorious months on the island where he received specialized training as an instructor in jungle operations. From Hawaii, they were sent to Guadalcanal in December where they saw no combat but battled mud, swamps, and mosquito-borne malaria. In 1944, arriving in the Philippines, G.W. watched Gen. Douglas MacArthur come ashore on a beach in Leyte. He was returned to Seattle on a troop ship, a journey that took 36 days through two major storms. From there, he rode a train to San Antonio where he paid $5 to a man for a ride to Hillsboro, arriving at 2:00 a.m. After spending the night in Hillsboro, his older brother, Elton, picked him up and took him home. No one knew he was coming. A cherished memory was watching as his mother, who was working in the field, looked up from her work, spotted him walking up the road, and, with both arms waving in the sunshine, ran to embrace him. It had been four years.

Once home from the war to Hill County, G.W. spotted a young woman walking down the street in Hillsboro who was to become his wife. He asked his buddy, “Who is that girl? I'm going to marry her.” And he did. G.W. and Wanda (daughter of Ralph and Edna Allen of Hillsboro) moved to Brenham where G.W. began his career of 34 years with the State of Texas in the License & Weight division of the Department of Public Safety. Eventually, three daughters were born to the marriage, Georgia Smith Brady, Linda Smith McMullin, and Anna Smith Whatley.

Eventually, attaining the position of trooper with the state in 1952, G.W. and family made their way to Bryan. It was there that his beloved wife, Wanda, passed away in 1960. But although life was sorrowful and difficult for him and his family for some years, G.W.’s strong constitution prevailed. A maker of friends, he was a sociable person. His friends and family were his strength, and it was from them that he was able to choose a life of happiness and contentment. ‘Love' is not too strong a word for the way G.W. felt about Bryan, the only place he called home for 66 years. Fellow employees of the state and friends made throughout his secondary career in real estate; his fishing-on-the-gulf companions; his regular coffee-shop gatherers for breakfast at the Kettle; his long-time poker buddies; his brothers in the Masonic Lodge; his lady-friends (you know G.W.); his neighbors—even friends’ families—G.W. passed away with a strong and abiding joy in memories of good times with friends accrued over a lifetime.

Preceding G.W. in death include not only his wife and their respective parents and grandparents but all of those forebears whom he was privileged to know and remember fondly; his sister and brothers; his grandson, Chance Johnston, Georgia’s son, and his many-years’ co-worker, companion, and love, Joyce Luedemann of Bryan, originally of Brenham.

Survivors include three daughters, Georgia Brady of Woodway and her sons, Greg Ferguson and wife, Lorie, and their children of Bryan and Russ Ferguson and wife, Tammy, of Baytown and their children; Linda McMullin and husband, Jimmy, of Hillsboro and their daughter, Randi Arriola and husband, Brandon, of Grandview and their children; Anna Whatley of LaMarque and her children, Shelly Smithson and husband, Nic, of Santa Fe and their children and Jason Whatley and his wife, Karla, of Friendswood and their children. Family friends: Linda Ferguson of Bryan; Patti and Pete Clark of Bryan; Randy Prevatt of Waco; Herlinda Martinez, devoted caregiver and friend, of College Station.

The family anticipates a memorial service in Bryan at a later time. Your sharing of remembrances, stories, and condolences at the Marshall & Marshall Funeral Home of Hillsboro, TX, website, www.marshallandmarshallfd.com, would be very much appreciated. G.W.’s daughters may be personally contacted as follows: Georgia Smith Brady — georgia@hot.rr.com, Linda Smith McMullin —lmlpta@gmail.com, and Anna Smith Whatley — lsdesigner98@yahoo.com.