Ralph Curtis Smith

Ralph Curtis Smith, age 89, of The Woodlands, TX, went to be with his Lord and Savior on June 30, 2016. Ralph was born in Port Arthur, TX, on August 9, 1926, to George Wilson and Esta Naomi Mondey Smith. He was raised in Sweetwater, TX, where he earned his Eagle Scout, played the clarinet in the band, belonged to the National Honor Society, and served as a lifeguard.

Upon graduation from high school he joined the US Navy where he served in the South Pacific during World War II. He fought in the Okinawa Campaign and was stationed with the occupation forces in Northern China on the USS Chincoteague AVP-24, a seaplane tender, as an aviation electrician mate 3/c. He received an honorable discharge in 1946 and attended Texas A&M on the GI Bill.

Ralph was employed by Shell Oil where he met his wife, Betty June Wilson Smith. They were married for 55 years. They had two children, Stephanie Sue Smith Schoppe and Nathan Alan Smith.

Ralph worked as a petroleum engineer at Shell for 31 years, and then went on to work at Rankin Oil as a production superintendent. He had an encore career as a counselor in the Business and Economic Development Center of Midland College from 1991-2001.

Ralph was a deacon, elder, and trustee of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Midland, TX. He believed he stood in the front ranks of the army of the Lord waiting for his call to serve.

Ralph was a founding officer and rose to chief of the Cypress Creek Volunteer Fire Department. He also rode five years as a volunteer emergency medical technician for Cypress Creek EMS in Houston, TX.

Ralph enjoyed golfing, hunting, fishing, dancing, bridge, dominoes, cards, working on cars, telling jokes, and spending time with his twin granddaughters.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Betty; his son, Nathan; and his sister, Dorothy Martin. He is survived by his daughter, Stephanie Schoppe and her husband, James; granddaughters, Jennifer and Christine; along with numerous nieces, nephews and dear friends. He is loved and will be missed by all. Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 p.m., Saturday, July 2 at Forest Park Funeral Home, 18000 I-45 South, The Woodlands, TX, 77384. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Sunday, July 3 at The Woodlands United Methodist Church, 2200 Lake Woodlands Dr., The Woodlands, TX, 77380. Burial will be Tuesday, July 5 at 11:00 a.m., at Resthaven Memorial Park, Midland, TX.