Roy Frederick Smith was born on January 21st 1945 in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, the second child of Richard Frederick Smith and Mary Cornelia Wilkins Smith. During his life he was blessed to have a total of 9 sisters and 1 brother. Drafted into the United States Army in September of 1965, Roy served his country with pride and distinction. He was very especially proud of the fact that he was Supernumerary of the Guard on his 21st birthday while in Advanced Individual Training at Fort Ord, California. There were 11 Roy Smiths in that huge battalion of military men yet you can be sure THIS Roy Smith was a shining star among them.
In December of 1967, while home on Christmas leave from Germany, he met the joy of his heart, Charlene Turner. While he wanted to elope right away, Charlene put the wedding off until she had graduated from high school. So after an intervening tour in Vung Tau, VietNam, Roy and Charlene were married on June 26, 1969 just 6 days after he returned from overseas and 30 days after graduation.
The greatest blessings in their lives were the gifts of people that God gave, starting with their cherished daughter, Jennifer Annette, who was born in April of 1970. 5 years later while stationed in Italy, they welcomed their precious son, Andrew Frederick in March of 1975. The couple established homes at Fort Lewis, Washington; Sumter, South Carolina; Vicenza, Italy; Fort Hood, Texas; Augusta Georgia; Kaiserslautern, Germany; and Copperas Cove, TX. After serving 20 years in the Army with tours in Wurzburg, Germany, VungTau VietNam, DaNang Viet Nam; Vicenza, Italy, and Kaiserslautern Germany, Roy retired as a Sgt. First Class and then opened his business - Hydraulic Equipment Service - which he ran in the Central Texas area for over 30 years. During those years, Roy and Charlene watched their children grow into exemplary adults and welcomed 4 grandchildren - Bryan Andrew Cox 29, Angelina Grace Smith 19, Saydie Marelyn Smith 17, and Nathan Frederick Smith 13.
As in every life there is pain and sorrow. Roy did not let it define him in any negative ways. His can-do attitude was reflected in his home, and his business at every challenge. When their home burned down in 2007, faith in God and sheer determination caused Roy to lead his family to rise from the ashes with a bigger and better home built by his very own hands. His deep and abiding relationship with his Creator remains the foundation upon which Roy, together with Charlene, built a family of whom he was so very proud as each one reflects the standards and principles set by such an amazing husband, father, grandfather, family member, and friend.
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