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John Lewis Smith, Sr., 76 of Wharncliffe, departed this life on Sunday, February 10, 2013, at his residence.

Born on October 17, 1936 at Cedar, he was the son of the late Melvin and Maudie Hatfield Smith.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by three brothers: Melvin Smith, Jr., Troy and Roosevelt Smith and three sisters: Thelma Rhodes, Josephine Trent and Blanch (Dee) Engram.

Lewis was a loving husband and a wonderful father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. He was an Elder of the Ben Creek Church of Christ and was a veteran of the US Air Force. He was a draftsman, worked as an engineer at Island Creek Coal Company, worked at W & P and Consol Coal Company. Lewis also worked with the Shepherd of the Hills food pantry and was on the Ben Creek Fire Department Board.

Those left to love and cherish the memory of Lewis and to mourn his passing include his loving wife of 50 years, Shelby Jean Mullins Smith; his two daughters: Sandra Ann (Bob) Keator of Harrisburg, North Carolina and Tina Louise (Donnie) Spence of Delbarton; his son, John Lewis (Taunia) Smith, Jr. of Varney; his six grandchildren: Whitney Laurae Thompson of Nashville Tennessee, Robert Lewis Thompson of Albemarle North Carolina, Kimberlee Nicole Spence and Katelynn Shelby Spence of Delbarton, and Sydney Hope Smith and John Tre’ Lewis Smith III of Varney; his two brothers: Roger Smith of Phelps Kentucky and Larry Smith of Tennessee; his two sisters: Sylvia Prince of Chicago Illinois and Joyce Fields of Charleston; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

Friends may gather with the family at the Ben Creek Church of Christ at Wharncliffe on Thursday, February 14th after 6 pm with a special service at 7 pm.

Funeral services will be held at 2 pm on Friday, February 15th at the Ben Creek Church of Christ with Rev. Gene Clemons, Rev. Denny May and Rev. Cletis Smith officiating.

Burial will follow in the Smith Cemetery at Cedar.

Lewis will be carried to his final resting place by his grandson, Bobby Thompson, nephews: Matt Kennedy, Ronnie, Daniel, Dale, Mike and Keith Smith, and Travis Simpkins and Mike Spradlin.

Honorary pallbearers are his grandson, John Tre’ Lewis Smith III and Bob Keator.

He is gone from our sight but never from our hearts.