Gale Tidwell Smith

Gale was born July 8, 1943 in Gadsden, Alabama to Julia “Julie” Tidwell and Woodrow “Woody” Tidwell, a Division Manager at Goodyear Tire.

She attended Gadsden High School where she played clarinet in the band. In 1965 she graduated from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education. After college she taught Typing and Accounting Business at Etowah High School in Attalla, AL and later at Berry High School in Birmingham.

In Birmingham she met William “Bill” Smith at a neighborhood car wash. They married on July 6, 1968. In 1976 Bill and Gale adopted William Wade Smith. In 1979 she began working as the Corporate Secretary and Treasurer of Tool-Smith Company, Inc.

She enjoyed spending time with her friends at Garlandia Garden Club, Bunco, and Church. She loved Alabama football games, traveling, and the beach.

Besides her loving husband William Otis Smith, Gale is survived by her son, William Wade Smith and his wife Carrie Hill Smith of Birmingham, AL, as well as numerous cousins and their families.

Gale was preceded in death by her parents Franklin Woodrow Tidwell and Martha Julia Burns Tidwell; by her brother Frank Tidwell; and by her sister, Susan Kocour.

Friends are cordially invited to visit with her family on Monday, the 2nd of May 2022 from five o’clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock in the evening at Ridout’s Valley Chapel located at 1800 Oxmoor Road, Homewood, Alabama 35209.

Funeral services will commence at eleven o’clock in the morning on Tuesday, the 3rd of May, at First Baptist Church of Birmingham with Dr. Jim Cooley officiating. The Church is located at 2209 Lakeshore Drive, Homewood, Alabama 35209. Immediately following the service, friends and family will gather for the committal service at Forrest Cemetery at two o’clock in the afternoon. The cemetery is located at 700 South 15th Street, Gadsden, Alabama 35901.

In lieu of customary remembrances, she would have preferred that, if you wish, make memorial contributions to First Baptist Church of Birmingham, www.fbcbirmingham.org located at 2209 Lakeshore Drive, Homewood, Alabama 35209 or to the Big Oak Ranch, www.bigoak.org located at 250 Jake Mintz Road, Gadsden, Alabama 35905.

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Services are under the direction of Ridout's Valley Chapel (205-879-3401) in Homewood.