Howard F. Smith

Howard Franklin Smith was born on the 10th of October 1927, in Houston to Marie Louise and Howard F. Smith Jr., and died peacefully with his family by his side on Sunday, the 30th of March 2025. We are so grateful to have had him with us for 97 years. He was married to Adelaide Scott in 1951, and they had three daughters, seven grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren, and 67 wonderful years of marriage until she died in 2018. He graduated from Rice University in 1948 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He was a Registered Professional Engineer and a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers. He ran the Howard Smith Screen Company, which his grandfather started in 1916, until he sold it in 1979. He then transitioned the Howard Smith Company into a real estate and development company. He served on active duty in the U.S. Air Force and was a retired Major in the Air Force Reserves. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Houston and was on the Kiwanis Foundation where he served as an officer and director. He was a past Director and Trustee of Goodwill Industries of Houston. He served for several years on the Advisory Board of Amazing Place. He grew up at First Presbyterian Church and enjoyed serving as an elder for many years. He and Adelaide later joined River Oaks Baptist Church and was on the Endowment Board of River Oaks Baptist School.

He was the best dad. He always had time to talk and listen, despite his working hard when we were young. We all recall taking long walks with him in the neighborhood, helping us with math homework and just always being calm and steady. No doubt his greatest joy was being a grandfather to his 7 grandchildren in his later years. He loved the outdoors and took them to do so many things ...fishing, gigging flounder, hunting and so much more.

He is survived by his daughters Marion Wade (Neal), Lib Snell; son-in-law, Bedford Burgher; grandchildren Neal Wade (Mary), Scott Wade (Katie), Charlie Snell, Adelaide Blandford (Ben), Ford Burgher, Louise Matherne (Matt), and Frank Burgher (Hadley); great grandchildren Cinco, Cooper and Hunter Wade, Howard, Jonathan, and Peter Wade, Robert Blandford, Lewis, Teddy, Addie Cate, Archer, and Nancy Burgher, Vincent, Isaiah, and Adelaide Matherne, Frances and Whit Burgher, and his niece Karen Schneider (Howard).

He was preceded in death by his wife Adelaide; his daughter, Adelaide Burgher; his son-in-law, Robert Snell; and his sister, Louise Neuhaus.

He was blessed with caretakers that gave him such loving care the last years of his life. Endless thanks to Chanda Holmes, Barbara Nelson, Margrett Searles, Tamela Holmes, Bobby Holmes, Deborah Reine, and JoAnn Searles.

A memorial service is to be conducted at three o’clock in the afternoon on Wednesday, the 9th of April at Christ the King Presbyterian Church, 1201 Silber Rd in Houston. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the Big Hall of the church.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed to Amazing Place; 3735 Drexel Dr., Houston, TX 77027; Cornerstone Presbyterian Church Houston; 1415 S Voss Rd., Ste. 110, #148, Houston, TX 77057-1000; K-9 Angels Rescue; 9415 Winsome Ln., Houston, TX 77063; or a charity of one’s choice.

Please visit Howard’s online memorial tribute at GeoHLewis.com where memories and words of comfort and condolence may be shared electronically with his family.