W. PRESTON SMITH
July 5, 1927-
March 17, 2012
LaGRANGE -- William Preston Smith, 84, of LaGrange, passed away Saturday, March 17, 2012.
A service of remembrance will be held today, March 18, 2012, at 4 p.m. at Rouse Funeral Home with the Rev. Sherman Guthrie officiating. Interment will be Monday at 11 a.m. from Fairview Cemetery, LaGrange.
Preston was born July 5, 1927, in Lenoir County to the late William Heber Smith and Lillian Ellis Smith. Preston was a long-time member of Beston United Methodist Church, where he has been Lay Leader and served on the Church Council. Preston retired from Smith Hardware Company following 42 years of dedicated service. He was a member of Wayne Masonic Lodge No. 112, York Rite Bodies and the Wayne Shrine. Preston was an active member of the New Hope Ruritan Club and a former member of Walnut Creek Country Club. Preston enjoyed working in his yard and garden. He enjoyed growing and sharing his vegetables with his family and friends. Preston also enjoyed quail hunting and a round of golf with his friends.
Preston was a much beloved husband, father, grandpa and great-grandpa. He is survived by his wife of almost 65 years, Doris Newsome Smith; two children, Phyllis Smith and husband, Darius, of LaGrange and Gary Smith and wife, Connie, of LaGrange; four grandchildren, Leslie S. Hunter and husband, Paul, William D. Smith, Samuel Eric Smith and Benjamin Preston Smith; two great-grandchildren, Kate Hunter and Davis Hunter; three siblings, Bennie H. Smith, William H. "Pete" Smith Jr. and Frances Smith Rouse; along with a number of nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Preston was preceded in death by nine siblings, Lenard Smith, Jessie Smith, Walter Smith, Garland Smith, Alphas Smith, Pauline Lassiter, Evelyn McMillan, Mary Lucille Smith and Beulah Roberts.
The family will receive friends today following the service and at other times they will be at the home. The Smith family would extend a special thank-you to Benita Henderson, Dorothy Bridgers, Odyette Gardner, Dr. Robert Meyer, Dr. Sherman Hawkins and their staffs for their outstanding care and support.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.rousefh.com. Memorials may be made to Beston United Methodist Church, c/o Daphene Radford, 1572 New Hope Road, LaGrange, NC 28551 or New Hope Ruritan Club Scholarship Fund, c/o Nancy Dawson, 181 Earl Road, Goldsboro, NC 27534. Arrangements are with Rouse Funeral Home, La Grange.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on March 18, 2012 10:32 AM