GENE SMITH

ADA-Services for Eugene D. (Gene) Smith, 86, Ada, are 10:00 a.m. Friday at the First Baptist Church, Revs. John Haynes and Harold Ware will officiate. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. The Chickasaw Honor Guard will conduct military honors at the cemetery.

Mr. Smith died Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at a local nursing home. He was born August 31, 1923 at Center, Oklahoma to Martin Earl and Clara Odessa Collings Smith. He attended school at Vanoss and Latta.

He married Ruth Carver on December 18, 1948. Mr. Smith was a World War II veteran serving in the US Army, 44th Infantry Division. He saw combat action in France, Central Europe and the Rhineland. He was awarded three bronze stars, the Good Conduct Medal, expert machine gun medal along with other ribbons. He was discharged as a non-commissioned officer in 1945. He was able to fly to Washington, D.C. on May 17th along with other World War II vets to see their Memorial honoring their service to their country. This was made possible by the Oklahoma Honor Flight.

He was in the heating and air-conditioning business for a few years before joining the Ada Fire Department where he served 24 years, retiring as Chief in 1979. He was a member of the Fire Chiefs Association, OSFA and served on various fire service committees and was a certified instructor of the fire services. He furthered his education by attending many special courses at Oklahoma University, Oklahoma State, Southern Methodist and North Texas Universities. After retiring, he served as Director of the Local Emergency Management agency for 15 years. He served as president of the Oklahoma Emergency Management Association in 1989. He was the first state treasurer for the Emergency Medical Tech (EMT). Gene was involved in many civic activities, serving as president of the Optimist Club, the Diamond K Kiwanis and was a member of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post. He was a long time member of the First Baptist Church of Ada.

Survivors include his wife, Ruth Smith, of the home; one daughter, Phyllis Smith Blackwell and husband Bob of Norman; grandchildren, Robert Blackwell and wife Kathy of Moore, Kathy Cross and husband Craig of Tulsa, Jennifer Smith of Tulsa, Leean Leu and husband Trevor of Tulsa, Raegan Smith of Tulsa; great grandchildren, Leigh Kelsey, Ryan and Corey Blackwell, Cayman Cross, Barrick and Rhett Leu; and one great great grandson, Kyler Kelsey.

He was preceded in death by a son, Dr. Dewayne Smith; his parents; a sister, Bonnie Faye McIntosh; three brothers, J. C. Smith, Buddy Smith and D. L. Smith.

Bearers will be Jim Haley, Gene Linton, James Manning, Donnie Moore, Charlie Maloy, and Donald Bowers. Honorary bearers will be retired firemen.

Criswell Funeral Home, Ada