Arthur "Art" David Smith Jr.

Arthur David Smith was born on July 24, 1928 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Arthur David Smith Sr. and Mable Winters Smith. He attended Stiles Grade School, Capitol Hill Junior and Senior High Schools, Bethany Peniel College (now Southern Nazarene University) and Nazarene Theological Seminary.

His introduction to the Church of the Nazarene came through his neighbor while growing up. This neighbor, Wanda Knox, was instrumental in getting him involved in the church on the corner of 44th Street and South Shields Boulevard. He was saved in this church, and baptized in a pond near the corner of 29th and Sunny Lane in Del City, Oklahoma in the summer of 1948. After his baptism, the church was growing and he was one of the members who signed the incorporation papers of what then was named Shields Church of the Nazarene.

On April 6, 1951, Art married Violet Ruth Southwell at Shields Church of the Nazarene in Oklahoma City, where both were members. Following the advice of friends, their first move was to Colorado, where he pastored a small church in Collbran. Art was seeking to find God’s will for his life, but was not as convinced as others that this was his calling. Ultimately he resigned the post and a move was made to Grand Junction. After about a year and a half in Colorado, Violet was offered a job at Nazarene Publishing House (NPH). This seemed to be an indication that employment with the church, but not pastoral duties, was their calling. The couple packed up and moved to Kansas City.

For the next 35 years, they lived in the Kansas City area. Just a year into their time there, they were blessed by the birth of their daughter, Beverly. Art spent several years working at NPH as well as at Nazarene World Headquarters (now the Global Ministry Center). He served at their home church, Kansas City First Church of the Nazarene, by helping in Children’s Church and wherever else he was needed. After about 5 years of attending Kansas City First, a new church was started in Raytown, Missouri, just southeast of Kansas City. This became the church home where both Art and Violet worked in many areas for 30 years. It was while attending this church that their son, Timothy, was born. During this time, Art was employed at Executone Communications. He installed sound systems, public address (PA) systems, nurse call systems, and more all over Missouri. After Executone, he worked for Menorah Hospital in their communications department, and his job travel ceased.

When the time came to retire, Art and Violet moved to Norman, Oklahoma to assist their daughter, Beverly, in remodeling her mobile home on a small acreage. It brought great joy for Art to be able to be near his daughter and grandchildren. During this time, the Southwest Oklahoma District Campground was doing some major improvements. Art was asked if he would like to move to Anadarko to oversee the maintenance and part of the renovations on the campground. It seemed to be where God was leading them, so a move was completed. Art and Vi lived in a house on the campground for a couple of years while he installed camp trailer parking and did other improvement projects.

At some point in his past, Art had desired to move to Bella Vista, Arkansas to retire. When he was through at the campground, this dream became a reality. A new church there was in the process of building and, of course, Art couldn’t go there without getting involved. His major project there was building the kitchen cabinets for the fellowship hall. It was here that he enjoyed being the song leader for the church services. He had taken a music directing class in college, and church music was his first love. During the two years in Bella Vista, his dreams were somewhat shattered by open heart surgery. He had some cholesterol problems, and ended up in the hospital with surgery to open the major artery in his heart after stents kept becoming blocked. During his recuperation, the decision was made to move back to Norman, Oklahoma.

The mobile home on the small acreage was available, and the remodeling had not yet been completed, so they moved back in so that Art could continue this work. This time, Norman First Church of the Nazarene (now Norman Community Church of the Nazarene) became their home church. Art found his calling there as a caretaker in the Lord’s house. Some small carpentry projects were needed, so he took out his tools and got to work.

In 2003, with the remodel of the mobile home complete, Art and Vi were asked to move to Moore, Oklahoma to live in Beverly’s house after she and her husband took a pastorate out of state. Art was given free rein to treat this like his house and do the upkeep as he saw fit. This brought him full circle, returning his membership to Shields Church of the Nazarene (now South Pointe Church of the Nazarene). For ten years, they didn’t move!

Over the years, Beverly had mentioned that she wanted her Mom and Dad to move in with her when they got to the point that they needed help with daily living, so Art’s last move was made a little over a year ago, in late 2013. This move came at just the right time, and Irving, Texas became home. Early 2014 came, and Art was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia. He began declining rapidly, and passed away on November 20, 2014.

Art’s final resting place will forever tie his eternal life together with his mortal one. He rose from the water 66 years ago in a pond that has since dried up on the property of Sunny Lane Cemetery, and his body will wait for his Lord’s return under that same ground. He gave his life to the service of God, and didn’t complain, no matter how humbling or gratifying the duties were that he was called to complete. May we serve his God in as faithful a manner, so that someday we will all join in singing again in Heaven.

Arthur was preceded in death by a son, Timothy David Smith, his parents, four sisters, and several other family members. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Violet of Irving, Texas; daughter, Beverly R. Bateman (Keith) of Irving, TX; sister-in law Helen Roberts-Tharp of Helena, OK, brothers-in-law Robert (Pearl) Southwell of Dover, FL, Wayne (Janice) Southwell of Lonsdale, AR, and Warren (Dorothy) Southwell of Yukon, OK; grandchildren, Miranda Hawkins of Norman, OK, Jeff Hawkins (Alissa) of Olathe, KS, Stephanie Henderson (Sean) of Irving, TX, Heather Bateman of Granger, IN, Paul Bateman of Charlotte, NC; four great-grandchildren, Akela, Amaeus, and Jabez Hawkins and Aksel Henderson as well as many nieces and nephews.

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Arthur David Smith was born on July 24, 1928 in Oklahoma City, OK to Arthur David Smith Sr. and Mable Winters Smith.  He attended Stiles Grade School, Capitol Hill Junior and Senior High Schools, Bethany Peniel College (now Southern Nazarene University) and Nazarene Theological Seminary.

Most of his working years were spent installing and maintaining communication solutions, especially in schools and hospitals.  On April 6, 1951 he was married to Violet R. Southwell in Oklahoma City.  In the late 1950’s Art and Violet moved to Kansas City, MO where they resided for the next 35 years, working in various Church of the Nazarene Headquarters and Publishing House roles.

Art enjoyed working with his hands, especially in the woodworking trade.  He made many articles of furniture for his home as well as for the churches and schools he was associated with.  After retirement, they moved back to the Oklahoma City Area and attended Norman First Church of the Nazarene (now Norman Community Church of the Nazarene) before returning their church membership to Shields Church of the Nazarene (now South Pointe Church of the Nazarene), where they had married.

In late 2013 the decision was made to move to Irving, Texas to be near their daughter.  Art was diagnosed with leukemia in early 2014, complications of which led to his death on November 20, 2014.

Arthur was preceded in death by a son, Timothy David Smith, his parents, four sisters, and several other family members.  He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Violet of Irving, Texas; daughter, Beverly R. Bateman (Keith) of Irving, TX; sister-in law Helen Roberts-Tharp of Helena, OK, brothers-in-law Robert (Pearl) of Dover, FL, Wayne (Janice) of Lonsdale, AR, and Warren (Dorothy) Southwell of Yukon, OK; grandchildren, Miranda Hawkins of Norman, OK, Jeff Hawkins (Alissa) of Olathe, KS, Stephanie Henderson (Sean) of Irving, TX, Heather Bateman of Granger, IN, Paul Bateman of Charlotte, NC; four great-grandchildren, Akela, Amaeus, Aksel and Jabez as well as many nieces and nephews.

Remembrance gifts may be sent to:

Kansas City Rescue Mission

c/o South Pointe Church of the Nazarene

400 SW 104th Street

Oklahoma City, OK 73139