Jimmy served his country with honor for 20 years from 1952 to 1972 as a proud fighter pilot and instructor. Major Smith graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1952 but with his burning desire to fly, he requested a position with the U.S. Air Force. (There was no Air Force Academy at the time.) After 17 moves in the Air Force, including assignments in England, France, and South Korea, Jimmy retired from the military in his early 40s and enrolled in Dallas Theological Seminary. In his fourth year of seminary, he was awarded the H.A. Ironside Preaching Award, and in 1976 he graduated with a Master of Theology degree. For the next 30+ years Jimmy served as a pastor in several capacities including overseas churches in Abu Dhabi and Hong Kong along with stateside churches in Texas and Colorado. He liked to say that he went from the cockpit to the pulpit! Jim’s love and delight was preaching the gospel of Christ and encouraging others to grow in Him.
Jimmy is preceded in death by his mother, Myrtle Buna (Polk) Smith, his sister, Alma Virginia Becknell of Jonesboro, AR, his brother Wayne Earl Smith Sr. of Cabot, AR, his son-in-law N. Erik Krag of Temecula, CA and his precious wife, Pat Tinsman Smith who died December 31, 2022.
Jimmy is survived by his four daughters: Geneva Krag, Grace Ely (and husband, Fred), Carol Cromartie (and husband, Greg), and Cindy Murdock; 12 grandchildren (Erik Krag, Christon Krag Sawatsky, Cindy Ely Maller, Timothy Ely, Cheryl Ely Marthers, Michael Ely, Matthew Cromartie, Laura Cromartie Monteiro, Jonathan Cromartie, Emilie Murdock George, Elise Murdock, and Jacob Murdock; and 19 great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday, September 12, 2024 at 11am at Ted Dickey West Funeral Home, 7990 President George Bush Turnpike, Dallas, TX 75252, with visitation one hour prior to the service from 10-11am. Burial with military honors will be held at 2:30pm at the Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery.
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