AARON SMITH
Sept. 23, 1926-Dec. 20, 2012
DUDLEY -- Aaron Smith, 86, trucking legend, died Dec. 20, 2012 at Kitty Askins Hospice Center due to heart failure.
For over 50 years, he was a major transporter of flue-cured and burley tobacco markets reaching from Missouri to Florida and into Pennsylvania. He employed hundreds and provided many with their first opportunity.
He also operated two Chevrolet dealerships, in Fremont (1969 to 1972) and Mount Olive (1980 to 1990).
During World War II, he served in the military police in France, Germany and Italy.
He studied business in Raleigh, and also attended Atlantic Christian College, where he met and married the love of his life for 61 years.
He was the last of seven siblings born to William Henry and Esther Davis Smith, known as the Smith Bros. of Dudley, general merchandisers and grain dealers. His son, Billy, presently manages the grainery.
He was preceded in death by his dedicated wife, Sallie Hardy Smith, and his six brothers and their wives, Bill and Rosalie Smith, Lyman and Grace Smith, Theron and Lorrie Smith, Rudolph Smith, Garland Smith and Carlton "Chip" and Jinnette Smith.
He is survived by three sons and their wives, William H. "Billy" and Faye Smith, Danny M. and Margey Smith and Robert A. and Tonya Smith; eight grandchildren, Leigh Ann and Andrew Smith, Michael, Wayne and Brandon Smith, Megan Cansler, Colleen Warrick and Daniel Smith; five great-grandchildren, Prairie and Patience Smith, Aaron Smith and James Sauls and Kaylee Smith; sisters-in-law, Katie Smith Thompson, Hazel Hardy and Georgia Hardy; a former daughter-in-law, Brenda Smith Hollamon; and many dear nieces and nephews.
He was a member of Dudley Christian Church.
Flowers are welcome or contributions may be made to the educational endowment in memory of his mother, Esther Davis Smith. c/o Mount Olive College.
Funeral services will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Shumate-Faulk Funeral Home of Goldsboro. Burial will follow in Wayne Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends immediately following the funeral service. At other times the family will be receiving friends at the home of Billy Smith, 4295 U.S. 117 Alternate South, Dudley.
Shumate-Faulk Funeral Home and Crematory of Goldsboro is serving the Smith family, and online condolences may be directed to www.shumate-faulk.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on December 21, 2012 1:46 PM