Dewey Glynn Smith was born in Delia, Texas on March 22, 1924. He passed away in Corpus Christi, Texas on November 28, 2018, at age 94. He was predeceased by parents, Robert Lee Smith and Lizzie Jewel Lillard Smith, brother, Bobby W. Smith, niece, Beth Smith, nephew, Robert G. Smith and Ruby Fante, step daughter.
He is survived by Christine Smith, his wife of 35 years, stepdaughter, Carolyn Burch (Melvin); grandchildren, Courtney & Curtis Burch; stepson; Randall Harwell (Lori), Austin (Laura) and Abigail Harwell great grandchildren Carlee & Carson Harwell & stepson, John L. Wright III of Austin. He is also survived by sister, Helen Smith Massey of Durham, North Carolina, niece, Sandra Smith Meridith of Dallas, Texas, two great nieces & three great nephews.
He served as an Infantry Officer in The United States Marine Corps. Both in WWII (1942-1946) and The Korean War (1950-1952). He was designated the leader of the surviving Marine Corp officers with whom he served. They participated in reunions from the 1970s until a few years ago.
He attended several Colleges and Universities and received an BA Degree from Austin College and a MS Degree from Baylor University in Education. He was honored and inducted into the Austin College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1982 for lettering in football, baseball & basketball.
He spent 33 years in education as a classroom teacher, coach & administrator in Mercedes, Harlingen, and at Cal Farley’s Ranch in Amarillo, Texas. He retired after serving 20 years as Superintendent of Alice I.S.D.
Upon retiring from the educational field he joined Harkins & Co. as Vice- President for Public Affairs, followed by Managing Partner of Harkins/Smith Properties, a real estate development company. He later founded Dee Gees Ventures, Inc., with his wife, Chris.
While in the field of education, Dewey served on many Boards & Committees at the local, regional & state levels. He was nominated by Texas public school educations through a statewide election, appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the State Senate to The Board of Trustees of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas. He was selected by the US Department of Education in 1970 to tour and observe educations practices in the Soviet Union.
Dewey was a man of strong faith who loved God, his family and serving others. He enjoyed traveling, reading, writing poetry, sports of any kind and playing golf, especially with The Fun Bunch in Alice.
The family extends a Special Thanks to Wooldridge Place Nursing Center for Dewey’s care.
Pallbearers: Melvin & Curtis Burch, Randy & Austin Harwell, Cory & Kent & TJ Smith.
Memorials; Community Presbyterian Church, 113 S. Alister, Port Aransas, TX 78373 and Cal Farley’s P.O. Box 1890, Amarillo, TX 79174.
Visitation will be held at Memory Gardens Funeral Home on Sunday, December 2, 2018 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Funeral Service will be held at Memory Gardens Funeral Home on Monday, December 3, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. with entombment to follow in Memory Gardens Cemetery.
