Roger Greene Smith
Funeral services for Roger G. Smith, 96, will take place Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019 at Bowers Funeral Home in Teague.
Bro. Scott Matthews and Bro. Jimmy Abram will officiate. Interment will follow the services at Greenwood Cemetery.
Visitation will take place Friday with the family present from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Roger Greene Smith passed away on Friday, Feb. 1, 2019, at the age of ninety-six at his residence in Teague.
He was born on Dec. 18, 1922, in Teague to Oscar Otis and Ida Vernon Eddings Smith.
Upon graduation from Teague High School with the class of 1940, Roger attended Kilgore Junior College until graduation in May of 1942.
In August of 1942, he joined the United States Marine Corps, entering the Pacific campaign of World War II with Marine Air Group 14, 1st Marine Air Wing, providing airborne radio and radar support for land based Corsair fighter groups in the Solomon Islands.
Returning after the war, he met Elizabeth Irene Pope in Teague, who graduated from Texas Women’s University in 1946 and was teaching in public schools.
On July 17, 1948, they married and began their family in the Dallas area where he worked for Mobil Oil Corp. as an electronics technician and then as an Electrical Engineer after graduating from S.M.U., while Elizabeth continued in public education through the years.
They raised their family of two sons and two daughters in Irving where they both participated in scouting activities with their children, Roger culminating a thirty-five year career with Mobil with a two year stint in Saudi Arabia.
After returning, Roger and Elizabeth retired to College Station where they were members of First Baptist Church in Bryan, Roger serving as Deacon, and both participating on several mission trips.
Roger had always entertained the notion of being a cowboy and entered the ranching business, eventually returning and buying ranch property in Teague where they lived together until Elizabeth passed away on Jan. 15, 2017, and where he remained until his passing.
They were members of First Baptist Church in Teague.
Roger was preceded in death by their daughter, Jeanne Marie Smith Jordan; and his wife, Elizabeth Irene Smith.
He is survived by two sons, Roger Bruce Smith, Neil Ray Smith and wife Dixia; one daughter, Janet Drew Remmers and husband Galen; five grandsons, Roger Allen Smith and wife Elaine, Nathan Drew Remmers, David Alexander Remmers and wife JeriAnne, Samuel Ray Remmers, and Stephen Lucas Smith; three granddaughters, Lucy Alexis Leonard and husband Nate, Megan Elizabeth Gindrup and husband David, and Lauren Elizabeth Smith; one great-granddaughter, Caymen Allyn Smith; other relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Jeanne Smith Jordan Endowment, The University of New Mexico Foundation, Two Woodward Center, 700 Lomas BLVD. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102 or online at www.unmfund.org.
The family wishes to give special thanks to Jordan Health Services, Virginia’s Hospice, and special friends, Lois, Lovie, and Kristy.
Visit bowersfuneralhome.net to sign the memorial guestbook or to leave a message for the family.