Whitley R Smith

Whitley Robert Smith, Jr., was born on August 15, 1924 in Sherman, Texas, and died on November 19, 2010 in Garland, Texas. Whitley lived in many cities over his life. He graduated from high school in Tyler, Texas. In 1943, Whitley was drafted into the Navy and sent to the South Pacific where he was stationed on Guadalcanal, The Marshall Islands and finally Guam. The war was over on his birthday and he returned home. He enrolled at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio and graduated in 1949. Whitley only had three jobs in his life, with the last one for 27 years with Beatrice Foods Company. He retired in 1987 after spending the last seven years with Beatrice as manager of the plant in Dallas. Whitley was predeceased by wives Mary Margaret Smith in 1975 and Ella Vern Smith in 2007. He is survived by son, Whitley R. Smith III and daughter-in-law Joanne Smith, daughter Terry Smith Lucius and son-in-law Jim Lucius. Also surviving are step children Helen Pendell and husband George and Bill Hammann and wife Sally; brother Reeves Smith and wife Beverly; six grandchildren Lindsey, Whitley IV, Ashley, Stacy, Brandon and Matthew; four great-grandchildren Jas, Brittany, Tyler and Dylan; and several nieces and nephews. A funeral service to celebrate Whitley’s life will be 2:00 p.m., Monday, November 22nd at Sparkman Hillcrest Funeral Home Northwest Highway Chapel. A visitation will be held prior to the service at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to First United Methodist Church of Garland, Tx. or the charity of your heart.