Robert Ted Smith

Robert Ted Smith, devoted husband, dedicated father, doting grandfather, and true southern gentleman passed on to an awaited life of peace in heaven on May 29, 2022. Ted was born in Victoria, Texas on October 1, 1932 minutes before his identical twin brother, Thomas Needum “Ned” Smith. They, along with their big sister Welda Anne, moved to Aransas Pass before settling in Corpus Christi where the boys graduated from Corpus Christi High School in 1950. After attending Del Mar Junior College, Ted transferred to the University of Texas at Austin where he became a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and made lifelong friendships. Ted’s education was put on hold when he was drafted into the US Army as a Counterintelligence Corps Special Agent from 1955–1957. He then returned to his beloved University and graduated in 1958. While working for various oil companies in Texas, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana, he received a call from a fraternity brother/Army buddy who had set up an interview for him at a new company called IBM. Ted was offered a job on the spot in the Data Processing division and started working for “Big Blue” in October of 1959 in Dallas, TX.

It was there that he met the love of his life, Adelaide McAnally Schnell. Though his friend warned him that she was the “marrying kind”, Ted was under her spell from the start, and they were married on December 31, 1960 in her home town of Pinebluff, NC. Ted’s sales career took off as well as his family as they welcomed Robert Ted, junior and Leslie Anne. In 1966 he was transferred to the IBM World Trade division in New York City where he had the opportunity to travel the world which was the highlight of his career. While living in Stamford, CT they also welcomed their third child, Steven Duncan. Tired of extended travel and missing his home state, he transferred to Houston where he spent the remainder of his career. Over the years Ted enjoyed coaching his sons’ sports teams, building derby cars for Boy Scouts, serving on his neighborhood’s board, and playing tennis at the Houston Racquet Club for which he was a member for 50 years. Upon retirement in 1987, Ted took up golf, was a docent at Bayou Bend for five years, joined Men of Action at MDUMC, traveled the world with Adelaide where he rediscovered his favorite city, Paris, and eventually took on his favorite role, that of “Poppy”, to his beloved grandchildren. He treasured the time he spent with them, especially during their annual family vacations to Port Aransas.

He is predeceased by his parents, Weldon Ted and Ada Cornelison Smith. Ted is survived by his wife of 61 years, Adelaide Schnell Smith; Welda Smith and partner Karen Vaught of San Antonio, TX; Ned Smith and wife Pam of Longview, TX; Ted Smith of Austin, TX; Leslie Mathias, husband Billy, and their children Meg and Tommy of Houston, TX; Steve Smith, wife Deborah Lenares, and their son Antoni of Boston, MA; Harriet Schnell Sloan of Aberdeen, NC; James McAnally Schnell and wife Harriet of Richmond, VA; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Ted was a proud Texan and dedicated Longhorn and will be missed by all who knew and loved him. A celebration of his life will be held on Monday, June 13th at 11:00am at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, 11612 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77024 with Brett Hurst presiding. A private burial will follow the church reception. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.memorialoaksfunerals.com for the Smith family.