E W “Smitty” Smith, 93, of North Platte, NE formerly of TX passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at Great Plains Health Hospital. He was born on July 26, 1930 in Lubbock, TX the son of Ewell and Ideary Smith.
E W grew up around Walnut Springs, Cleburne, and Fort Worth, Texas. He graduated from Mansfield high school and excelled in baseball, football, and track. He started college at John Tarleton in Stephenville, TX and received a basketball scholarship. While in college he met and married Billye Dale Robonoe in 1949 and together they had two children, David and Diana. E W worked for various companies including Texas Electric Service Co. as a lineman, Travelite Trailor Co. in Fort Worth as a carpenter, Convair Aircraft plant as a patternmaker. Later upon moving to Retta, TX he worked as a builder of prototype models and tooling models for injection molds for Loma Corp. of Fort Worth, TX and then for Doskocil Mfg., where he retired. He enjoyed hunting and traveling throughout the U.S. In retirement he enjoyed being a gunsmith, a ham radio operator, and an avid reader of Texas and early U.S. history. He also enjoyed playing autoharp, guitar and harmonica in the band “High Cotton”. They retired to Mountain View, Arkansas. Following the death of his wife of 64 years Billye, he was fortunate to meet Billie Jean Beall. They became loving and close companions moving to North Platte, NE to be closer to her children and grandchildren.
Those left to cherish his memory are his significant other, Billie Jean Beall of North Platte; daughter, Diana Smith of Austin, TX; stepchildren, Leonard E. (Christine) Beall of North Platte, Michael (Connie) Beall of North Platte, and Patrick Beall of New Mexico; several step grandchildren and step great grandchildren; and many other special friends and relatives.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Billye Dale; son, David Smith; and a granddaughter.
Inurnment will be in Cope Cemetery in Retta, TX. Arrangements have been entrusted to Carpenter Memorial Chapel.