Stanton F. Smith

Stanton F. Smith, 95, of Kingsland died Oct. 30, 2011, one week after the death of his wife Beva L. Smith. He was born on his family’s farm near Bucklin, Kan., south of Dodge City on Jan. 9, 1916, to Frank and Effie Blackburn Smith.

He lived near Hooker, Okla., for most of his childhood and remembered the struggles of the “Dirty ’30s” and the lean years of the late 1920s.

He met the love of his life when he was farming for his brother John in Morton County, Kan. He married Beva Evans-Coursey on April 20, 1941.

He loved his grandchildren and taught them to ride bicycles. He took the boys fishing, boating and water skiing after he and his wife moved to the Hill Country in 1981. He helped them with their first automobiles and attended college graduations and marriages.

He and his wife traveled the United States in their recreational vehicle after retirement. His grandsons consider their rite of passage into manhood was when they were finally allowed to drive his “big rig.”

After moving to Kingsland, the couple joined First Baptist Church, where they made many close friends.

He was a member for many years of the Kingsland Lions Club, and with his wife, enjoyed years of membership in the Good Sam’s Club RV’ers, and the SAM’s group at Kingsland First Baptist.

He will be remembered not only as a good friend, but also a devoted spouse, a wonderful father and the world’s best grandfather. He was especially interested in encouraging his children and grandchildren to further their education and to always walk the “high road” of faith. He was a man of character and principle, a humble, God-fearing man.

In everything he did, his ethics and standards were the “best of the best,” and he led others to be better by making them believe they could be. He was a voracious reader and possessed the analytical mind of an engineer.

His deep faith in the Lord Jesus Christ was manifested in his respect for every person, regardless of station in life, education, disability or ethnicity. He had a special place in his heart for any who were “different” or had special needs.

Survivors include his daughters Neva Ruth Eskew and husband Jerry of Kingsland and Shadley Fay Wiegman and husband Glenn of McMinnville, Ore.; grandchildren Kent Eskew of Memphis. Tenn., Brent Eskew and wife Erin of Windsor, Colo., Jindy Eskew of Kingsland, Nathan Wiegman and wife Kristina of Beaverton, Ore., and Timothy Wiegman and wife Shanna of Fort Myers,Fla.; great-grandchildren Jordan and Taylor Eskew, Stanton Eskew and Braden and Shaleigh Tuman; and brother Lavern “Shorty” Smith of Fayetteville, Ark., and formerly of Kingsland.

He was preceded in death by most of his siblings.

The family requests that memorial contributions be made to someone in need.

A joint memorial service for the couple will be announced later.

He was buried next to his wife in Lakeland Cemetery in Burnet County.

Arrangements by Putnam Funeral Home, 145 Texas Ave. in Kingsland, (325) 388-0008.