Rodney Carl Smith

Rodney (Rod) was born August 3, 1934 to Carl and Mary Smith, in Kankakee, Illinois. He attended Kankakee schools.

He served in the United States Army, spending most of his time in California, driving the General who was the Base Commander. He often spoke fondly of those years, and had a great amount of respect for his General.

Rod was employed for many years at Roper Corporation in Kankakee. He also owned and operated his own Mac Tool business for several years, and later on was a truck driver for Crown Cork and Seal.

Rod was one of the founders of the Kankakee Township Fire Department, and over the years served in several capacities and in his last years with the department, was the Assistant Fire Chief. He was quite proud of the Fire Department and of the years he spent serving.

In 1986 they moved to the Houston, Texas area where their 3 sons had moved several years before. During their years in Texas, Rod became interested in genealogy and spent a great deal of time tracking down his family history and that of his wife, and putting together books on both families. He was quite proud of the work he had done in that field.

Rod is survived by his wife Erma Faye Tallent, who he married on October 5th, 1956. He is also survived by sons, Steve & wife Margaret, Greg & wife Sheryl and Bill & wife Michelle, as well as 4 granddaughters, Anita, Alyssa, Shelby and Kristin, and one great grandson, Wesley, and also a dear friend of Rod and Faye, Claudette Wooldridge.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Metcalf Funeral Home in Conroe, Texas. Services will be held on Thursday November 10, 2011 at 9am in the St Paul United Methodist, Rev. Cynthia T. Hinson, officiating, with burial in Houston National Cemetery at 11:30 am.