Marvin Lyle Smith

Marvin Lyle Smith passed away December 31, 2016. He was born in Tampa, Florida, to Lee Smith and Gladis Roland on July 24, 1925. He graduated high school from Florida Military Academy, in St. Petersburg, Florida, in 1943, where he was on a full sports scholarship playing: football, basketball, baseball and riflery. Like all young men of that era, he was very anxious to join the military and serve his country. Immediately after high school, he joined the United States Navy. His naval training began in Bainbridge, MD, followed by communications training in Sampson, NY. In 1944, he was transferred to the Pacific Theater where he served from Australia to Alaska. While touring the Pacific Ocean his main duty was communications trouble shooting on a variety of naval vessels. As with any war, communications during WWII was extremely vital between U.S. ships as well as of upmost importance in intercepting enemy messages. Marvin’s experiences in the navy were so varied and unusual that his service included assignments in cities ranging from San Diego, Seattle and San Francisco to the Brooklyn Naval Yard and New York City, just to name a few. He worked in everything from sixty below zero temperatures in Alaska to the beautiful tropics of Hawaii. Life was quite an adventure in the Navy!

After being honorably discharged, Marvin continued a life of service. Having been a Boy Scout since he was 12, and becoming an Eagle Scout soon thereafter, Marvin remained active in scouting throughout his life. He served as an Assistant Scout Master during WWII whenever he was stateside. He served on the National Boy Scout Board and was a Life Member of the Sam Houston Area Council Executive Board. He served on the National Catholic Committee on Scouting and was National Chair from 1986-1989. Marvin was humbled to receive the Silver Buffalo award, which is the highest national honor bestowed on a member of the Boy Scouts of America. He credits the scouts for his love of God, country, and family. Marvin always felt a person should “serve this great country in one capacity or another until you have given back what you receive.”

After his service in the military, Marvin graduated from the University of Rochester with a BS and MS in Geology and Civil Engineering. Marvin began his career as a petroleum geologist with Shell Oil Company. His first assignment was surface mapping in Colorado followed by relocations to San Antonio, Corpus Christi and Houston where he worked as a subsurface geologist for the exploration department. In 1965 he resigned from Shell, where he had served as District Manager and Offshore Manager, to become an independent consultant. Marvin spent the majority of his consulting time with Hamill Resources (an independent oil and gas company) where he served the company as it grew to more than 500 productive wells. Marvin was a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, American Institute of Professional Geologists, Society of Independent Earth Scientists, Paleontological Society,

Houston Geological Society, Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies and the Society of Sigma Xi.

Marvin loved God, family and country and was proceeded in death by his precious wife, Geraldine Gilligan Smith. They had four children: Kevin Smith, and friend Evelyn Turner, Brian Smith, Sheila Smith and Timothy Smith. Five grandchildren: Neal Smith, and wife Xue; Alex Smith and wife Bethie; Kristin Smith; Spencer Smith; and Martin Smith. After losing his sweetheart of many years Marvin married Winona LaBrant in 1998. His enlarged family expanded to include: Lisa LaBrant Zook, and husband Christopher, and grandson Christopher Alan Zook, Jr.

Visitation will be Tuesday, January 3, 2017 from 6-8p.m., with a rosary at 7p.m. at Earthman Bellaire Funeral Home, 4525 Bissonnet, Bellaire, Texas 77401.

Memorial Mass at 11a.m. Wednesday, January 4, 2017 at Holy Ghost Catholic Church, 6921 Chetwood Dr., Houston, Texas 77081. There will be a reception immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers please make donations in Marvin's name to NCCS Boy Scouts of America

Attn: NCCS-Emmett J. Doerr Memorial Scout Scholarship, P.O. Box 152079, Irving, TX 75015-2079 or Sam Houston Area Council, BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA, 2225 North Loop West, P.O. Box 924528 Houston, Texas 77008.

Condolences may be offered at www.earthmanbellaire.com