Waco Allen Smith

WACO ALLEN SMITH, 98, passed away Saturday, October 24, 2015, at his home in Bellville. Waco was born July 14, 1917, in Buckhorn, Texas to parents William David and Augusta Grube Smith. He grew up and attended school in Bellville. After graduating from Bellville High School, Waco worked on a survey crew, and later went to school in Houston to learn aircraft building. He left Bellville and found work in San Diego, California in an aircraft factory building bombers in support of the war effort. Upon returning to Bellville, Waco married Virginia Houchin, from St. Paul Minnesota on October 13, 1945. Together they had one daughter, Margaret Gayle. Virginia preceded Waco in death on April 10, 2000. He went to work for Humble Oil and Refinery in 1945, and left for military service in the United States Army during the occupation of Japan. He left the army in June 1947, and returned to Humble Oil, later known as Exxon. He worked there as a supervisor in gas plants in Katy and Clear Lake until his retirement in 1977. On December 7, 2003, Waco married Dorothy Menke at St. John Lutheran Church in Bellville. They made their home in Bellville where they have been members of St. John''s. Waco raised Angus cattle earlier in life and was still shredding fence lines along the road with his tractor when he was 97 years old. Waco enjoyed slow drives around town with his dog and he loved to Square Dance. Waco is survived by his WIFE: Dorothy Menke Smith; DAUGHTER: Margaret Gayle Holiday; SON-IN-LAW: Vance Murphy and wife, Kay; GRANDCHILDREN: Michael Murphy, Vanessa Murphy-Kinney (Justin), Travis Murphy and Lance Murphy; GREAT GRANDCHILDREN: Althea Murphy, Grace Murphy, Renee Murphy, Wellesandra Kinney and Stella Kinney; NEPHEW: Brian Smith and wife, Debbie; COUSIN: John Stanley Grube; and many other friends and relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents, BROTHER: John "Tabby" Smith, his WIFE: Virginia Smith, and NIECE: Linda Simms. Pallbearers will be Lance Murphy, Vance Murphy, Michael Murphy, Brian Smith, Cal Dasher and Elliott Newman. Friends who wish may make memorial gifts to the: St. John Lutheran Church, 520 North Holland, Bellville, Texas 77418, Compassionate Care Hospice, 3833 South Texas Avenue, Suite 100, Bryan, Texas 77802 or to the St. Joseph Regional Health Center, P.O. Box 977, Bellville, Texas 77418.