Paul Martin Smith

Paul was born to Phoebe Adeline Reynolds Smith and Martin Carl Smith on January 2, 1942, in Fort Worth, Texas. He had an all-American childhood in San Marcos, Texas, with his younger brother James. Paul graduated from San Marcos High School in 1960 and moved with his family to Fort Worth, where he met and married Catherine Marie Wood. They were married for over 58 years from June 1, 1962, until her death on January 23, 2021.

In his teenage years Paul discovered a love for racing cars and ultimately became a successful professional NHRA race car driver. He built and drove his own cars and co-founded the South Central Junior Fuel Circuit, and in 1973 he was the NHRA Pro Comp World Champion. In summer months his racing trips were family affairs with Marie and their three children in tow for long drives to racetracks across the country and hot days in the pit areas. When he said, “go before we leave the house,” he meant it! He worked at General Motors and retired after thirty years.

Daily rituals included a rambunctious rush to the door with the family dog to welcome him home from work, dinner at 5:30 sharp, and goodnight hugs and kisses before bed. He loved New Years Eve, fishing, weekend trips to the Maddox lake house, travel with Marie and friends, Hawaii, scuba diving, his Monday Night Group friends, steak dinners and crawfish boil parties.

Paul is preceded in death by his beloved wife Marie and his parents Phoebe Adeline and Martin Carl Smith. He is survived by his daughter Bonnie Petsche and her husband Alan; daughter Terri Reed and her husband Doug; son Larry Smith and his wife Kelly; grandchildren Kate, Alec, Eric, Julia, Scot, and Heather; brother James Reynolds Smith and his wife Sue; step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be Wednesday, March 9, from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm at Moore Funeral Home, 1219 N. Davis Dr., Arlington, Texas. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, March 10, at 10:00 am at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 5819 W. Pleasant Ridge Rd., Arlington, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests charitable gifts be made in memory of Paul Smith to UNICEF Ukraine’s Children: https://www.unicefusa.org/stories/unicef-children-crossfire-ukraine-crisis/39542?form=FUNCZQQBUQH&fundraiser=NKWGRCPC

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.moore-funeralhome.com for the Smith family.