Cary, IL – Services celebrating the life of Arthur L. Smith will be held at 2:00 p.m. on April 20, 2018 at Hill Crest Memorial Chapel in Haughton, LA with Brother Billy Pierce officiating. The family will receive friends at 1:00 p.m., prior to the service. Interment will follow at Hill Crest Memorial Park.
Arthur L. Smith was born June 28, 1927 in Tuckerman, Arkansas. He went to his heavenly father on Saturday, April 14, 2018. He was one of eight children born to Albert and Cordia Smith (deceased). He had a long career in the military during WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam. He served in the US Army as a border patrol guard then served as a cook serving thousands of soldiers. He switched branches and joined the US Air Force working on B-52’s, he retired after 20 years in the Air Force. He and his wife, Ruth Smith, retired in Bossier City, Louisiana, started a successful real estate/contracting business, and raised three children. Arthur and Ruth moved to Clarksville, Tennessee, to be near his youngest daughter and two grandchildren, where he became a deacon in the Northeast Baptist Church. After fifteen years in Tennessee, they moved back to Bossier City to be near his son and grandchildren. Arthur was a member of the Cypress Baptist Church prior to moving to Cary, Illinois to spend his remaining years with his oldest daughter and her family. Arthur was blessed with a long life filled with many experiences and a large loving family! Most importantly, his loving family was blessed with his caring and loving spirit; his smiling blue eyes and big grin; and of course his witty character!
Arthur is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Ruth Smith; children, Angela (Steve) Hicks, Brian Smith, and Cecilia Coker; eight grandchildren, Miranda (Justin) Arendt, Amber (Ciprian) Socaciu, Russell (Melanie) Hicks, Callie Coker (Kyle Price), Claire Coker (Jack Frisque), Amelia Smith, Austin Smith, and Tracy Valentine; nine great grandchildren, Gabrielle Arendt (fiancé - Mike Flaschberger), Gillian Arendt, Gracee Arendt, Savanna Socaciu, Neo Socaciu, Lucas Hicks, Levi Hicks, Wyatt Price, and Christian Valentine and one remaining sister, Abba Jean Bowen, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Steven Hicks, Russell Hicks, Justin Arendt, Kyle Price, Jack Frisque and Mike Flaschberger.
Condolences may be shared at www.hillcrestmemorialfh.com
