Bernard Cyril Smith III

BERNARD C. SMITH III

September 21, 1944 – August 13, 2025

Bernard C. Smith III (known to everyone as Barney), a resident of Helotes, Texas, died at the age of 80, on August 13, 2025. He was born on September 21, 1944, in Opelousas, Louisiana, to parents Bernard C. Smith II and Gwendolyn (nee Burleigh) while his dad was away fighting in World War II.

Since his dad remained in the military after the war, Barney lived many places growing up. He graduated from Schertz-Cibolo High School in 1962. He attended Southwest Texas State College (now known as Texas State University), graduating in 1966 having earned a bachelors degree in Sociology.

Barney was in ROTC in high school and college and after college joined the Air Force. He served at various bases in the United States and one in Turkey near their border with Russia. His active duty ended after the end of the war in Viet Nam at which time he continued to serve in the Reserves (attaining the rank of Major) until he retired in 1987.

Barney lived many places during his life making friends wherever he went. He has kept in touch with many of these friends, from high school, college, the military, and his different jobs over the years, remarkably maintaining those close bonds over his entire lifetime.

During his time in the Reserves, he worked as an Investigator with the Office of Personnel Management. In 1987, he transferred to the U.S. Customs Service in Houston, Texas, where he met his wife, Kathy, a Customs Intelligence Analyst.

While with Customs, he taught classes to Customs Inspectors and Special Agents, helping them to deal with the stresses of their duties, improving the quality of their lives at work and at home. He also was in charge of installing gyms at many Customs offices in the Southwest Region. In recognition of his contribution to the success of the Customs Wellness Program and the Health/Fitness Program, he received an award presented to him personally by the Commissioner of Customs at a ceremony at the Headquarters offices in Washington, D.C.

He and Kathy both retired in 2002 and moved to Helotes, Texas.

During his entire life, Barney was dedicated to building and maintaining his physical strength and fitness and helping others to do the same. Over the years, he participated in numerous triathlons, half marathons, and road races.

His physical fitness and his humor pretty much defined Barney. He was always telling jokes and sharing funny stories and personal observations, keeping everyone laughing. His humor will be greatly missed, but he has left us with many good stories and memories we can continue to share with each other.

Barney is survived by his wife, Kathy Smith (sharing his life for 36 years), his sister Lynn Norton and her husband Larry, his nephew Andrew Norton, and his niece Jennifer Norton. Barney was preceded in death by his mother and father and his brother, Burleigh John (B. J.) Smith.

To honor Barney's memory, his family warmly invites donations to the Helotes Humane Society.