Judge John W. Smith

John was born in Odessa, Texas on September 22, 1944, to the late John Wymer Smith and Zula Geraldine Harris Smith. He graduated from Permian High School in 1963. He attended UTEP formerly Texas Western College in El Paso, Texas from 1963 to 1966. He was a member of the Kappa Sigma and Delta Theta Phi fraternities. He continued to receive his Doctor of Jurisprudence from Texas Tech School of Law on December 18, 1976. He married Mary Jane Spence Smith on January 8, 1982, in Odessa, Texas, and were married for 43 years.

He joined the Navy on May 22, 1967, and separated on June 1, 1970, reaching the rank of Chief Petty Officer. From 1968 to 1969 he was in the Mekong Delta serving in the United States Mobil Riverine Force on ALPHA 955. He received the Navy Achievement Medal with Combat “V”; Navy and Marine Corp Combat Action Medal; Presidential Unit Citation; Navy Unit Citation; National Defense Medal; Viet Nam Service Medal and Four Campaign Stars; Navy Expert Rifleman; Republic of Viet Nam Service Medal and was Honorably discharged in March 1971. He always said “his experience in Viet Nam made him the man he was the good and the bad”

He said “As an old limping Veteran” he went back to Lubbock where he received his license to practice in 1976. He was in private practice for sixteen years where he specialized in criminal law. He ran and was elected District Attorney of Ector County, Texas from 1993 until 2006 when he was appointed Judge of 161st District Court, Odessa. He retired in 2009 and after retiring he continued to preside as a Senior Judge until his passing.

He was an avid golfer, and at one time had a 7 handicap. He and Mary Jane enjoyed many golfing trips while traveling in their motor home. He also restored a 1963 Dumpy wooden boat, even replacing the keel. He was very proud of his handy work, saying it “looked pretty good for an old country lawyer with shaky hands”.

He was the Comanche Trail District Boy Scouts of America, District Chairman 2000/2001; Held the highest awards in Scouting - Eagle Scout, Silver Scout, and Order of the Arrow; Boys and Girls Club of Odessa Board of Directors 1997; Odessa Rotary Club; American Legion; Veterans of Foreign Wars; life member Mobil Riverine Association; 32 degree Mason serving as past president and other positions of Masonic Lodge of Odessa 955; Scottish Rite; York Rite; president of Odessa Shrine Club 1990; director of Odessa Shrine Club 1991-1994; chairman of the Shrine Mason Golf Classic 1987-1992; Shrine transportation fund member; Royal Order of Jesters; Charter Member of Odessa Crime Stopper past Judge Teen Court, member Odessa Chuck Wagon Gang 1980 to present; charter member Republican Men’s Club, Odessa; Texas Narcotics Officers Association; Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation; listed in Martindale-Hubbell with AV rating.

He was preceded in death by his parents John Wymer and Zula G. Smith, brother Harris L. (Cotton) smith, sister-in-law Hylma Gober Smith, and sister Geraldine Ball.

He is survived by his wife Mary Jane Smith, daughter Kimberly Ann Hundemer (Richard); son John W. Smith, and daughter Genevieve Johnston Smith (Chad). Grandchildren Ewan Smith, Ashley Hundemer, Katie Bolech (Wes); Claire Hundemer; Chelsea Conner(Richard), and Wesley Smith(Cynthia). Great grandchildren Jacob Lemmons; Riley Ann, Ellie Mae, and Bexley Jo Bolech; Stella and Blaire Conner; Jensen Smith.

Services will be held at First Methodist Church, Odessa on February 25th at 1:30 pm. Honorary pallbearers John Leathers and Bill Hefner. Pallbearers John Smith, Richard Hundemer, Chad Smith, Ewan Smith, Andy Smith, Lance Glover, Joel Snow and Drew Smith.

In lieu of flowers, the family wishes you consider making a memorial donation in John’s honor to a charity of your choice

The family wishes to thank, Dr. Kahandawal and his staff and all those who were so kind and caring at Texas Oncology of Odessa.