Thomas Byron Smith

Tom married Diane Staffelbach in 1951, in what he said was his "best move". They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in 2016.

Tom graduated Oklahoma A&M College in 1952, BS Industrial Engineering, where he was President of Sigma Tau honor society and Editor of Oklahoma State Engineer magazine.

In 1952-55, Tom served in active combat duty with the US Army in Korea. He logged 1000 hours of flight time in 4000 landings in Cessna L-19s.

Tom was registered as a Professional Engineer in Texas, and he was a Legion of Honor member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers. He worked for Hughes Tool Co. for 37 years, and he was principal in Smith Consulting Services for 23 years. He contributed drilling engineering expertise in API and IADC technical committees. He and Diane have lived in Oklahoma, Kansas, Wyoming, Louisiana, Texas, Colorado, Singapore and France. Tom traveled to 18 countries for work. Tom was a story teller, and he started many an anecdote from his career with the phrase "in the days of the wooden derricks."

Tom and Diane moved to Lakeway in 1998, after memorable Lakeway vacations in the 1970's. Tom was Deacon and Usher for Lakeway Church, Editor of Homeowner News, and active in Tennis Tigers, Men's Bible Study, Friends of the Parks, Parks and Rec., Service League, Lakeway Civic Corp., ViewPoints and Firewise.

Tom died on May 8, 2017, and is preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Bauknight Smith and Ennard Sedalia Martin, his son, Thomas Byron Smith Jr., and his sisters, Cleonna Smith Armstrong and Nell Smith Thompson. He was "Brother" to Marian Smith King and Reggie King, "Dad" to Susan Smith Howes and Hal Howes, "Grandad" to Rachel Howes and Elizabeth Howes, and "Uncle Tom" to a multitude of nieces and nephews.

Please join us in celebrating Tom's life on May 20, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. in a memorial service at Lakeway Church (lakewaychurch.org) followed by a reception. Donations to Lakeway Church or American Heart Association are suggested in Tom's memory.