Eugene Neal Smith

Eugene N Smith, affectionately known as Grangy by his granddaughters, passed away February 14th, 2025, at the hospice house in Arlington, Texas, at the age of 90. Born in Carthage Missouri April 13,1934. Eugene enlisted in the military after high school graduation and was later granted a transfer to the United States Air Force and shortly thereafter qualified to attend and was accepted to West Point. He graduated from West Point in 1959. He made the USAF his career. Shortly after retiring from the USAF, he decided to get another degree which brought him to Arlington, Texas. This degree was in accounting, which probably was his passion all along. His lifelong passion was railroad steam engines. As a little boy he had dreamed of being a railroad engineer. Seeing a steam engine sitting in a museum or going down the track made him smile like a little boy.

Eugene loved taking his family out to eat and trying new places. He loved giving quirky gifts, always conversation starters and worthy of a story. He was the original Girl Dad and Grandfather. One could always count on him to give sound advice and never stopped believing in our ability to achieve our goals.

Eugene is survived by his wife Maria Smith, his daughter Rebecca Prater, his granddaughters Rainey and Miranda Prater, his sister Marilynne Williams, sister-in-law Nancy Smith nieces Cynthia St. Louis and Stacey Janke and nephews David Smith, Stephen Tuggle and Jason Tuggle. He was preceded in death by his parents J.D. and Dorothy Smith, and brother Robert Smith.

In honoring Eugene’s wishes there will be no funeral or memorial service. The family will have a Celebration of Life dinner with a date to be determined.