JESSE EUGENE "GENE" SMITH
March 27, 1933-March 14, 2011
ALBERTSON -- Jesse Eugene "Gene" Smith, 77, passed Monday, March 14, 2011, in his Winterville home with his family from pancreatic cancer.
He was born March 27, 1933, in Lenoir County to the late Coy B. and Gladys Benton Smith.
He is survived by his wife of 551/2 years, Jo Ann Grady Smith; daughter, Tammy Jo Smith DuBrey and husband, Elmer; grandson, Kyle Mercer Quinn; stepgrandchildren, Stephen and Christina DuBrey; two sisters, Doris Robinson and Lillie Jones; two brothers, James "Jim" Smith and wife, Jean, and George Smith and wife, Martha; in-laws, Robert Shelton Grady and wife, Edna, and Ted Grady and wife, Glenda; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded into heaven by his parents and two brothers, Jack and Frank Smith.
Gene served in the United States Air Force from 1952 to 1956 during the Korean War as an X-ray tech.
He then earned a degree from Campbell College in 1959.
He retired from Kinston DuPont in 1996 after 32 years as a member of the truck shop. He worked on lift trucks and forklifts and was nicknamed "Houdini" for his ability to fix most anything.
He was a former member of the Albertson Ruritans, original chairman of the planning committee for the Albertson water system, charter member of Harper Southerland Presbyterian Church during his early years, and was a long-standing member of Pleasant View Presbyterian Church in Albertson.
Visitation will be Wednesday, March 16, 2011, at Pink Hill Funeral Home from 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral will be Thursday, March 17, 2011, at Pink Hill Funeral Home at 3 p.m., with the burial following at Oak Ridge Memorial Park in Pink Hill.
Friends will also be received at the Albertson home.
Memorials may be made to Pleasant View Presby-terian Church, 4104 North N.C. 903, P.O. Box 109, Albertson, N.C., 28508-9542.
Online condolences may be sent to www.pinkhillfuneralhome.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on March 16, 2011 1:48 PM