Wilburn Smith

Wilburn Herbert “Smitty” Smith passed away on November 5, 2008, while in the loving care of his daughter, Sandra Lee. He is survived by his daughters, Sandra Lee, Sheila Valesano, Sherrie Smallwood, and Cheryl Cheshire. He was preceded in death by his parents Herbert and Josephine Smith and his son, Michael Herbert Smith. Born on December 12, 1923 in St. Mary’s, Missouri, Wilburn served in the U. S. Coast Guard and later worked for 50 years as a Merchant Seaman in the Maritime Industry. He was a kind loving father and friend with a great sense of humor who enjoyed horses, reading, and watching his garden grow. Wilburn traveled all over the world as a merchant seaman. He experienced numerous cultures and the customs of many nations. He would often return home from his travels with objects from Egypt, Viet Nam, the Middle East and Japan. His interesting stories kept his family and friends spellbound for hours. Wilburn loved his family more than anything else. He retired early so that he could care for his mother when she became ill. He was known for introducing his children to every relative he knew and he knew them all. He took great joy in researching his ancestry and was always amazed when he discovered another leaf in the family tree. Wilburn’s favorite pastime was spending time at the race track. He had volumes of notebooks with strategy and plans. No one moaned louder or laughed harder than he did when he lost on a horse. He learned the internet at age 70 just to get more information on his beloved horses. Though he will be missed deeply, he leaves behind family and friends who rejoice in his return to the care of his Heaven Father.