James F. Smith

November 9, 1932 – March 3, 2016

James F. Smith (Jim) passed away March 3rd, 2016, in San Antonio, Texas. Jim was born November 9, 1932 in Francis, Oklahoma to Horton V. and Jenny Poe Smith. He was married to Faye D. Webber, also of Francis. He had resided in San Antonio since 1990.

Jim and Faye married just out of high school and began life together in St. Louis, Missouri, where he worked at a variety of factory jobs and attended night courses at St. Louis University. In 1952 the couple moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma where Jim began work as a clerk in the oil industry. Eager to move up, the family relocated to Lindsay, Oklahoma where Jim worked as a tank farm manager. Two years later he returned to Tulsa and began a steady ascent in the petroleum industry, moving from pipeline operations to crude oil sales, management of trucking, refining and retail operations. His family moved often, living in Denver, Abilene, Calgary, Shreveport, Baltimore and made repeated moves to Tulsa, San Antonio and Houston. Jim worked with Sun Oil through the 50's, The McWood Corporation and Occidental Petroleum in the 60's, Tesoro in the 70's, and Crown Central Petroleum, where he was President, in the late 80's.

Jim was an active member of Concordia Lutheran Church and a supporter of Concordia University, Austin, Texas. He was a founder of the Carl McCain Foundation. He was a member and past president of Oak Hills Country Club, San Antonio. He was an active member of the Petroleum Club of San Antonio, and was serving his second term as club president at the time of his death. He was thoughtful and serious about supporting political groups and persons that he believed represented his vision of America: strong, protective of personal liberty, and offering opportunity to all.

Jim was preceded in death by his brothers, H.V. Smith and Jack Smith, and sister, Mary Elizabeth Chandler.

Jim is survived by his wife, Faye Smith and sons, Martin Smith and partner Sandra Salazar, Barry Smith, and Jeffery Smith, all of San Antonio. Also surviving Jim are his brother, Glen Smith of Sulphur, Oklahoma; Jeraldine Smith, widow of brother Jack Smith, of St. Louis, Missouri; grandson, Michael Smith and his wife Lindsay Smith of Austin, Texas; grandson, Matthew Smith of San Antonio; granddaughter, Sarah Smith DeLuna and her husband Michael DeLuna of San Antonio; granddaughter, Elizabeth Winston and her husband Philip Winston III of Deming, New Mexico; and great-granddaughters, Olivia DeLuna and Zoe DeLuna of San Antonio.

Jim remained very active up to the end of his life, serving as Petroleum Club of San Antonio President, managing his family's diverse investments, and active in supporting the religious, charitable, and political activities that he held vitally important.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Monday, March 7, at Porter Loring Mortuary North.

FUNERAL SERVICE

TUESDAY

MARCH 8, 2016

11:00 A.M.

CONCORDIA LUTHERAN CHURCH

16801 HUEBNER

Pastor Bill Tucker will officiate. Interment will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Kyle McAlister, Reed Williams, Mike Grimes, Martin Smith, Barry Smith and Jeff Smith. Those unable to attend may live stream the service at www.concordia.cc. The family requests that no flowers be sent and that friends contribute to a charity of their choice in honor of Jim.