Charles Eugene "Gene" Smith

Charles Eugene “Gene” Smith, 82, passed away on Friday, February 5, 2016 at his residence in Buffalo Gap, TX. Services will be at 2:00p.m., Thursday, February 11, 2016 at First Baptist Church, 1002 Litel St., Buffalo Gap, TX with Pastor Chuck Gililland officiating. Burial will follow in Buffalo Gap Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday evening from 6:00p.m. to 8p.m. at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 5701 Hwy 277 South, Abilene. Serving as pallbearers will be Charles Smith, Jr., Greg Smith, Paul Smith, Shadrach Smith, Gregory Smith, and Benjamin Diamond.

Gene was born on September 10, 1933 in White Deer, Texas to the late Eugene Smith and Esther Pauline Matthews. During his lifetime he was involved in several organizations including serving his country in the U.S. Army and retiring after 20 years of service.

Gene was a lifelong Mason achieving the status of 32nd degree Master Mason and a member of International Masons as well as a Shriner. He was a corporate firefighter and security officer and also worked for the U.S. Postal Service, Texas Instruments, and Honeywell. He loved hunting, fishing, playing dominoes and cards, enjoying western novels and movies, and traveling by taking cruises with his wife, Gisela who passed away last year. Gene was a “Texas Gentleman” where his word was his bond. He was well liked by all that knew him and will be missed by all.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife of 57 years, Gisela; and a nephew, Anthony Wayne Smith. Survivors include their son Charles, Jr. and his wife Burni, their children, Stephen, Jessica and husband Amos, and Sonia; daughter Kathy Diamond, her husband David, their children Benjamin and Tasha and husband, David; daughter Joann Smith, her children Shadrach and his wife Sarah, Paul Thomas and his wife Liliana; and son Greg and his children Shannon, Gregory, and Serenity; brothers, Earl Wayne Smith and wife, Peggy and Lawrence Alva Smith; sister, Claudia Helen Williams; several nieces and nephews, Robert Wayne, Stacy, Kimberly, and Steven Smith and Raymond Lee, Donna, and Ronald Jay Williams.