O.B. Smith

O.B. Smith, Jr. was born in Waxahachie, TX on May 4, 1938, the only son to Laura Dillard and O.B. Smith Sr. and the only sibling to sister, Carlene Agnew. After attending high school he was employed by the Dr. Pepper Bottling Co. On July 1, 1960, he married his high school sweetheart Patricia Jean Freeman. They resided in the Lakewood area where he worked at 7-Eleven. He also owned two gas stations and later worked as a supervisor in route sales at Sunbeam Bakery and Frito-Lay. In 1982, he and his wife built Apple Tree Acres in Mesquite, TX. In the 14 years of operating Apple Tree Acres he became "affectionately" known as "Paw-Paw", where he touched many children's lives. He became a grandpa to some, a friend to all and created "Friday Bubble Gum Day" In 1992, he selflessly opened the doors of his day care to the Gethsemane Baptist Church, as the church relocated to Mesquite. He was a proud man who strived for organization and had a meticulous lifestyle. He enjoyed the lake, boating and restoring old vintage cars. After retirement in 1996, he became ill with a debilitating lung disease, to which he succumbed to his death on February 22, 2005 at Doctor's Hospital in Dallas, TX. He is preceded in death by his father O.B. Smith Sr. Mr. Smith is survived by his wife of 44 years, Pat Smith; Son, Charles David Smith; Daughter, Cindy Gray; Daughter, Tammie Brown; Daughter, Kim Gray; Mother, Laura Smith; Sister, Carlene Agnew; 13 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren and numerous loving family and friends. The service will be at 2:00 PM Thursday, February 24, 2005 at New Hope Funeral Home, 500 E. Hwy 80, Sunnyvale, Texas. The family will receive friends at New Hope Funeral Home on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. The family would like to express a special thanks to Dr. Mark C. Ferris and his medical staff at Doctor's Hospital for their outstanding medical care and concern. To his wife he was "Babe" To his children he was "Daddy" To his grandchildren he was "Paw-Paw", "Poppy", and "Pops" But to all of us, he was a wise and determined man who will be missed by all who knew him.