Harold Smith

Harold Smith joined his Heavenly Father on December 19, 2013 in Houston, TX. He was born July 15, 1922 in Carmona, Texas into the large family of the late Rolland and Lelia Besser Smith. Harold served his country honorably in the United States Army Air Corps stationed at Ellington Field from 1942 to 1946. In 1946 while in Denver, Colorado he met his future wife Lois Kornegay from Douglas, Wyoming. They married in Houston November 22, 1946. He started working for Southwestern Bell in 1946 as a construction foreman and moved around Texas for five years. When Harold lost his vision at age 50 he continued working with Southwestern Bell for several years. He became the building manager of the downtown AT&T building. He retired from AT&T after 25 years. Harold and Lois lived in the Spring Branch area most of their lives where they raised their three children. Even with his blindness he played a very active role in the lives of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Harold was a lifetime member of the Masons and the AT&T Pioneers Club. Harold and Lois were very active members of Westview Baptist Church and then Houston's First Baptist Church. He was particularly proud to have served as a deacon at Houston’s First Baptist Church.

Harold was predeceased by his beloved wife Lois in 2011 after 65 years of marriage. Also predeceased by his parents; grandson -- Gregory Smith ; all his brothers -- Ralph, Carl, Paul, Rolland Jr, Jesse, Billie; all his sisters – Siddie Sage, Lois Puntch and Sybil Fagan.

Harold is survived by his three children from the Houston / Katy area and their spouses. Candy Leskin (Mike), Connie Boone (Larry) and Stanley Smith (Linda). Surviving grandchildren are Brooke Boone, Benjamin Boone, Linley Boone Almaguer (Pablo), Stephen Smith (Kelli), Katherine Leskin and Carolyn Leskin. Great grandchildren are Gracie Smith, Claire Smith, Rachel Smith, Jude Smith, Paloma Almaguer and Astrid Almaguer.

All of Harold’s family extends gratitude and appreciation to Dorothy Thibodeaux, his loyal caregiver for over three years. Dorothy treated Harold like a member of her own family. Her care for Harold actually took care of his whole family. Special thanks to his caregivers Eunice Hernandez and David Fults. The family also thanks Dr Sheth, Dr Sreenarasimhaiah, and the staff at DaVita Memorial Dialysis Center for their care in these past years.

In lieu of flowers please consider contributing to these organizations in Harold's name. Houston’s First Baptist Church www.houstonsfirst.org or The Sunshine Kids www.sunshinekids.org in memory of Harold and Greg Smith or Foundation Fighting Blindness www.blindness.org.

Graveside burial service with military honors Dec 23 at 10AM Memorial Oaks Cemetery 13001 Katy Fwy Houston 77079.

Memorial Service Dec 23 at 1130 AM at Houston’s First Baptist Church 7401 Katy Fwy Houston 77024 followed by reception.