Walter Frank Smith

Walter “Walt” Frank Smith, born on the 22nd of October 1937, was called home to heaven on Thursday, the 7th of May 2020, while surrounded by family. Although Walt was in the oil and gas business for most of his career, he was primarily a people person. He loved to see other people maximize their potential both personally and professionally. He had a desire to see people make a positive difference in their homes, neighborhoods, cities, country and places of employment.

Walt began his career at Exxon, where he held sales and management position of increasing responsibility over a nine-year period. From there he held positions in various companies including Cotton Petroleum as Vice President of Oil and Gas Marketing. Other companies included YPF/Maxus Energy (formerly Diamond Shamrock), serving in both Ethiopia and Colombia.

He was also Senior Vice President of the International Center for Executive Options, a leading provider of executive consulting services around the world. He co-founded Performance Factor Ltd., an affiliate of LHH in Bogota, Colombia to meet the needs of Fortune 500 companies requiring multinational consulting services in the area of career transition, team building, leadership development and more.

Although Walt’s work took him literally around the world, his two greatest loves were God and family. Walt and his wife Susan joined Second Baptist Church in December 1994, a church that would become a second family. They both served faithfully over the years. Walt was an active Deacon, prayer warrior and faithful bible study member.

Walt is survived by his wife, Susan; children, Brandon, Amy and husband, Jon Stroup; and grandchildren, Sarah Kate, Jack and Ben; Sister, Sara Northcutt and her husband, Rev. Dean Northcutt.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from four o’clock in the afternoon until six o’clock in the evening on Tuesday, the 12th of May, at Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

A Celebration of Life will be held at one o’clock in the afternoon on Wednesday, the 13th of May, in the Sanctuary of Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway Drive in Houston, where the Rev. Brad Goad will officiate. The service will be live-streamed by Second Baptist Church and may be accessed at the following link:

http://www.second.org/liveevents

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed toward Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway Dr., Houston, TX 77057.

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