Ronald Lee Smith

Ronald Lee Smith, Sr. (Lee) of Houston Tx died on May 23, 2025 at the age of 91 from complications after back surgery. He was born on October 8, 1933 in Woodstock GA where he has happy memories of growing up on a farm with no electricity or running water, plowing with a mule, planting and picking cotton and corn, slopping hogs, and cutting firewood for cooking and the fireplaces.

The family moved to Houston in 1943, but he missed the farm so he moved to Hallettsville with his sister’s family and graduated from Hallettsville High School in 1951. He served in the Navy till 1955, serving on the USS Amphion AR13 during the Korean War. He was very proud to serve his country and was very patriotic throughout his life.

When he got out of the service, Lee returned to school and graduated from UH with a Bachelor of Applied Science degree and began his career as a Designer/Construction Administrator-Consulting Engineer. He worked for Bernard Johnson Engineers, IA Naman + Assoc, and Burns DeLatte & McCoy, Inc. His proudest career accomplishment: “I did the job I was hired to do, the best I could, all day, every day” until he retired at 81 years old. Being a perfectionist made him a good teacher, and a good mentor. That was Lee’s work ethic and reputation in a nutshell.

The most important things to him were his faith in the Lord and his family. He was proud of his wife and “that she stayed with me all these years”, and his 2 kids. He was devoted to them. That love also translated to his extended family. He relished big family gatherings, and took many a vacation to see family across the country. He was a member and served as deacon at Broadway Baptist Church and FBC Spring Branch, and a member at Clay Rd Baptist Church. He was also a Mason. He loved to hunt, fish, camp and travel. The 2-week family summer and winter vacations are some of the happiest memories for the whole family. And, all while singing 100 Bottles of Beer on the Wall a million times, and all the country music classics of the time. Friends and colleagues were also very important to Lee. He loved getting together with current and former colleagues, the Old Timers Club, his high school reunions, and outings with his Sunday School class.

If you were a friend, you were a friend forever. Lee never wanted to lose touch. And he took every opportunity to help out friends and family whenever he could.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Bennett and Beatrice Smith, and his 8 siblings, Georgia DeGlandon, Molly Smith, Wade Smith, Ruth Howard, Dorothy Ledbetter, Hazel Smith, Mabel Smith, and Joan Smith.

Lee is survived by his wife of 69 years, Jeannine, and his children Ron Smith and Cindy Smith, as well as a number of nieces and nephews. Services at Forest Park Lawndale, Wed, May 28. Visitation 1:30, Service 3:00, Graveside 4:00.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in his honor to Shriner’s Hospital for Children, Camp Hope Houston or your local church.