Dorthy E. Smith

Dorothy Elizabeth Smith (Stowe) (Rasor), age 94, of San Antonio, passed away peacefully. Born to George Warren and Ethel Blanche (Van Ness) Stowe in San Antonio. She attended St. Mary’s School downtown. She clerked in a stationery store, worked as a bank teller at First Federal and briefly as a map maker’s assistant.

In 1943, Dorothy married Frank James Pierce Rasor of McKinney, TX, who served as a pilot in the US Army. They were married for 12 years before Frank was killed in a plane accident at Barksdale Airforce Base. The family returned to San Antonio where Dorothy raised their five children and graduated from Our Lady of the Lake with a teaching degree. She would say that she had help from her beloved Mother, Ethel, and her father-in-law, Ernest Mae Rasor.

Sarah King and Mary Hull Elementary Schools were the sites of her teaching assignments. She loved the children and did her best to enrich their lives. She also loved having the summers free to take her own children to the farm, the beach or Big Bend National Park. She worked in a civil service position at Kelley AF Base managing airplane parts until she married Paul Lindsay Smith in 1969.

Paul laid the world at Dorothy’s feet as they honeymooned in Acapulco, toured all of Europe, cruised the Danube, and visited the Holy Land. They lived for a time in Wiesbaden and Frankfurt, Germany, before they settled down in a home in San Antonio. They were active at Our Lady of Grace Church, participating in bible studies and various auxiliaries.

Throughout her life, Dorothy had a great passion for art. She took sculpting classes at Our Lady of the Lake, fine art at San Antonio College, Southwest Craft Center, the Jewish Community Center, the Art Institute at McNay, UTSA, and belonged to a cooperative at the Ruble Center at Trinity Baptist Church where she painted portraits. The body of work she created is massive and worthy of a gallery show.

Dorothy is predeceased by both her husbands, Frank and Paul; her mother and father, her daughter, Joan Rasor of Los Angeles; sister, Thelma Lockwood; and her brothers, Frankie and George. She is survived by her sister, Rose Kersh of Mississippi. Her children are Paul Arthur Smith of Idaho, Candace Price of Los Angeles, Richard Rasor of San Antonio, Frank Rasor of New Jersey, and Roberta Ambrosino of San Antonio. Grandchildren are Jeremy Smith, Emily Bratyuk, Jacob Rasor, Mary Rasor, Stephanie Rasor, Sarah Rasor, Nicholas Rasor and Mark Ambrosino. Dorothy had a full life and was loved.

Visitation and rosary, October 1, 5-9pm at Roy Akers, 515 N. Main Ave. A brief visitation and mass will be held on Monday, October 2, from 9-11 at Our Lady of Grace, 223 E. Summit. Memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of Grace church.

Arrangements under the direction of Funeraria Del Angel Roy Akers, San Antonio, TX.