Patricia Hill Smith

Patricia “Patt” Hill Smith was born November 21, 1927 in Tulsa, OK to Theron and Elizabeth Hill. The family moved to Chicago shortly thereafter. She attended Herzl College. On Easter Sunday 1945, a young Navy aviation cadet training in Glenview, Illinois mysteriously sought a Baptist Church to attend in Chicago 30 miles away. Of course he was late and had to go to the balcony. “May I have a song book?” he asked a young usher girl. She said “If you had been on time, we would have had one!” Can you imagine wartime and a young man in uniform! Of course he had to go back next Sunday. The young girl’s mother, seeing promise in the young cadet, invited him to lunch. A casual relationship began. He was transferred to Pensacola, Florida and they corresponded often. John Lee Smith earned his Navy Wings of Gold in 1946 and they were married in that same Second Baptist Church a week later.

From there to NAS Miami, NAS Oceana, near Norfolk, VA for three years with the Atlantic Fleet. Following discharge, they settled in Dallas where Patt worked as a secretary to put Lee through S.M.U. and Baylor Dental College. Then to Northwestern University Dental School in Chicago for two more years! They then returned to Dallas and started their family; three wonderful and successful children. Roy became an attorney, Sue was a Dallas Police officer and Anne became a world champion number one tennis player.

The Davis Cup, U.S. vs Mexico (tennis) was played at Samuell-Grand Tennis Center in 1965. Friends invited them to go and watch (but they were golfers). It did look like fun and a challenge so Patt and Lee began lessons. They soon became “hooked”. The children also began lessons and the whole family enjoyed the challenge that tennis offered. When T-M Racquet Club opened in 1970, they were the 7th family to join and Patt became a very competitive and outstanding player.

Patt was active in and treasured by her many friends in Dallas Woman’s Club, Dallas Glass Club, Les Femmes du Monde, Dallas Antiques and Fine Arts Society, Mentor Club and Canterbury Book Review Club. She was an exemplary and faithful Christian lady, a member of First Baptist Church for 65 years.

Patt is survived by Dr. John Lee Smith, her husband for 71 years, daughter Dr. Anne Smith of Dallas; sister, Shirley Crawford and her daughters Janie and Lynn and her sons Bill and Ernie. Patt’s son Roy Lee and her daughter Sue rejoiced and angels sang as they welcomed Patt into her heavenly home.

A visitation will be held from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Wednesday July 5, 2017 at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home, 7405 W. Northwest Highway, Dallas, Texas 75225. A service of celebration will be held at 10:00 AM on Thursday July 6, 2017 at the funeral home. Interment will immediately follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park, 7405 W. Northwest Highway, Dallas, Texas 75225.