Raymond F. Smith

Raymond Frederick Smith was born December 7, 1926 and passed away May 24, 2015 after a long battle with COPD.He enjoyed the first 10 years of his life in rural upstate New York on his family’s dairy farm.

In 1936 they moved to Edinburg, Texas, where his father farmed and managed citrus groves. Raymond graduated from Edinburgh High School in 1944, enlisted in the Navy and served in the last days of World War II. After the war, he studied electronics in Valparaiso, Indiana. Returning to Edinburg in 1948, Raymond worked at KURV radio station where he met lifelong friends. He then opened an electronic sales and service store but was forced to sell it when he was recalled to serve in the Korean Conflict. Returning to civilian life, he started a new business in Port Isabel servicing electronic equipment for the booming shrimping business. In 1955 Raymond began work for the U.S. Border Patrol, installing and servicing radios and surveillance equipment. He began working for the U.S. Weather Service in 1965 and was transferred to Victoria, where he maintained weather balloon tracking systems, computers, radar and other electronic equipment. Raymond retired from the NOAA in 1989 to begin a full-time devotion to putting his faith into action, working with a number of churches and organizations. He joined Toastmasters International in order to develop new skills, visited jails both locally and with Bill Glass Prison Ministries, expressed his faith in articles he wrote for the local newspaper, and initiated bringing the American Family Radio to Victoria. As President of Strong Families of Victoria, he organized the annual local observance of the National Day of Prayer. He volunteered with Hospice of South Texas and as a Chaplain at Citizens Hospital. He was also involved in church activities and several men’s Bible groups. Raymond had a great sense of adventure and loved to travel, enjoyed reading, gardening, canoeing and piloting light aircraft.

Raymond is survived by his wife, Adrienne Lynnae Smith; brother, Dr. Leon R. Smith (wife Shirley); children, Nathan Smith and wife Amy, Lowell Smith and Julie Smith; grandchildren, Alexis, Elijah and Trajan; brother-in-law, Elwyn Brown (wife Jean); sister-in-law, Sandra Pullen; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold VanVechten Smith and Georgia Lewis Smith; and sister, Jean Carolyn Davidson.

A visitation will be held from 6 to 8 pm, Wednesday, May 27, 2015 at Colonial Funeral Home. A Funeral Service will be held 10:00 am, Thursday, May 28, 2015 at Fellowship Bible Church with Pastor Clayton Lopez officiating. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to a favorite charity.

Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.colonialfuneralhomevictoria.com