David M Smith

Born in Greenville, Mississippi on November 24, 1922 to Elvira Mottley and William Burris Smith, David was the seventh of eight children. As a soldier in the United States Army, he served in Europe during World War II and received numerous commendations including two Bronze Stars. At war’s end, David returned to the USA a 1st Lieutenant and went back to Mississippi State College, earning a Bachelor’s of Science degree in 1949. Throughout the 1950’s, David worked as an oilfield survey engineer in west Texas as well as in the South American countries of Argentina, Venezuela and Peru. He had many fond memories of his time in El Tigre, Venezuela and loved to share stories from that time in his life.

When he had time away from work, David would return to his home state of Mississippi and spend as much time with his mother, brothers, sister, nieces and nephews as he could. The kids all loved to go for rides along the levee in Uncle David’s convertible. In 1961, David returned to the States for good and continued working as a surveying and design engineer in New Orleans and Houston, ultimately moving to Bastrop, Texas in 1966 to work for TRACOR in Austin. In 1973, David opened the Old Dime Store on Main Street in downtown Bastrop and continued the business in two different buildings under several names until his retirement in 2001. David M. Smith was a soldier, student, son, father, grandfather, uncle, inventor, patent holder, mathematician, craftsman, gardener and lover of all things pecan (especially pie).

David is preceded in death by his parents; brothers Burris, Francis, James, Raleigh, Paul, Marvin; sister Patricia; nephews James and Lawson and niece Sandy.

David is survived by son, Shane K. Smith of Canyon Lake, Texas and daughter Gina Gambrell of Austin, Texas.

A service celebrating the life of David M. Smith will be held at 2 pm on Saturday, September 6, 2014 at the Marrs-Jones-Newby Funeral Home in Bastrop, Texas.

Graveside Military Honors and Burial will be at 2 pm on Monday, September 8, 2014, at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery on Highway 195 in Killeen, Texas.