Joseph Wendell Smith

He served as a summer student missionary in Ohio and Kentucky for three summers while in college. He married Betty Lou Woodring in 1957 shortly after he graduated from Georgetown College. Three years later he graduated from Southern Seminary.

Rineyville Baptist Church ordained him to the gospel ministry in 1956 and he served three different churches as pastor for the next 11 years in Kentucky and Ohio. During these years, they had three children, Angela, Mark, and Kevin.

He and Betty were appointed as foreign missionaries to Southeast Asia in 1968 where he planted churches and taught seminary extension courses to the new church leaders. They served for 30 years.

After retirement, Wendell and Betty came home to their home community of Rineyville and to their home church, Rineyville Baptist Church.

For over 20 years, Wendell served as pastor to the senior adults and taught a Sunday school class for seniors, which he started.

Wendell and Betty celebrated their 62nd anniversary a few days before he was striken by a stroke. A little over three months later, he went home to be with Jesus and join the heavely choir with his "new voice."

He is survived by his wife, Betty Lou Smith; children, Angela Fay Smith (Jim Braith), Mark Dwayne Smith (Jodi) and Kevin Scott Smith (Karen); one sister, Joyce Ann Mussey (Doug) and grandchildren, Julia (Chase Parker), Nathan, Kara, Claire and Andrew.

The funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at Rineyville Baptist Church with Rev. Jerry Shacklett officiating. Burial will follow in Rineyville Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for Foreign Missions via Rineyville Baptist Church.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.brownfuneral.com.