OBITUARY: James Frank Smith Jr., 87, of Lakeway dies March 24, 2014
James Frank Smith Jr., 87, of Lakeway died peacefully at home March 24, 2014. Frank was born June 12, 1926, to Minnie Lee (Robinson) and James Frank Smith Sr. in Fort Worth.
After graduating from Amon Carter-Riverside High School in 1944, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, served as a coxswain in the South Pacific during World War II and was honorably discharged in 1946.
After the war, Frank attended North Texas State College, where he studied art and advertising, played football and ran track, drew caricatures for the newspaper and yearbooks, and graduated in 1950.
After college, he worked in Dallas as a graphic artist and, later, as advertising manager for the A. Harris and Co. department store. He later worked as an advertising account executive for several other Metroplex-area firms, including Tracy-Locke, Witherspoon and Associates and Jones-Blair Paint until 1971. At that time, he joined M/A/R/C Inc., an innovative marketing intelligence firm, where he served as executive vice president until he retired in 1989.
In his free time, he loved to play golf, fish, paint landscapes, doodle cartoons, coach his sons in several sports and interact with kids of all ages.
Baptized into Christ at a young age, Frank was a faithful, loving son, brother, husband, father, uncle and grandfather. He served as a deacon and an elder for Walnut Hill Church of Christ in Dallas and later as an elder for Western Hills Church of Christ in Austin. He was actively involved in Christian education, serving on the board of trustees and as board president for Dallas Christian School.
Frank is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Ann; brother, Lowell Smith and wife Louise; daughter, Loren and husband Steve Muro; three sons, Frank and wife Susan, Kelly and wife Whitney and Britt; and five grandchildren, Jennifer Stokes, Dallas Smith, Will Stokes, Zachary Smith and Jackson Smith.
The family would like to thank those who tenderly cared for Frank during his final months, especially the staff of the Lakeway Regional Medical Center, the staff of Summit Lakeway, the staff of Hospice of the Hills, the caregivers of both Heavenly Care and Caring Senior Service, and Dr. Robert Van Boven.
A graveside service is 2 p.m. March 29 at Valley Spring Cemetery in Llano County.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to Dallas Christian School.
Arrangements by Waldrope-Hatfield-Hawthorne Funeral Home, 307 E. Sandstone in Llano, (325) 247-4300. Email whhfuneral1@verizon.net with condolences.