Vollie Eugene “Gene” Smith, Sr.

Vollie Eugene “Gene” Smith, Sr., 78, passed away with his family at his side on Sunday, Sept. 3, 2006, at his residence in Lockhart. He was born on Aug. 6, 1928, in Harlingen, Texas, to Vollie Smith and Lorena (Colbert) Smith.
As a young man, Gene attended junior high in Corpus Christi, where he learned to play the trombone in the “Buccaneer Band” and music earned a sp

ecial place in his heart. He was also a member of the band when he attended Stephen F. Austin High School in Austin.
In 1946, Gene joined the United States Navy and served several tours in the South Pacific, including the “Good Will Tour Around the World” on the USS Rochester CA-124, distributing medication and assistance to those in need. The Korean War broke out and the Rochester became the “flag ship” on another mission with General Douglas McArthur on board for a short time. Gene earned the rank of Machinist”s Mate Third Class and worked in the forward engine room and also made fresh water for the crew and ship.
In 1951, Gene returned to Texas and lived in San Antonio, where he worked as a draftsman, creating structural drafts and reinforcing steel on projects throughout Texas and the Southwest. In 1974, Gene met his wife of 29 years, Sylvia. They were married on July 7, 1977 (7/7/77), and their families combined to include seven children altogether.
The family lived in Austin for a time before Gene and Sylvia built a home on Lake Buchanan in Burnet, where they lived for 14 years. Gene loved boating and lakes.
In 2002, the family relocated to Lockhart, which Gene said “has the prettiest courthouse and everything is only eight blocks away!” Gene was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Lockhart and was a life-long member of the VFW Post 8927 of Lockhart.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Vollie and Lorena Smith; and his sister, Adele Smith.
He is survived by his wife, Sylvia Smith of Lockhart; his children, Terry Mothersole and her husband David, Stephanie Bones and her husband Robert, and Vollie “Gene” Smith, Jr., all of Austin, and Pam De Groot and her husband Jim of Colorado; his step-children, Victor “Trey” Armstrong III and his wife Lori of Washington state; Kimberly Sherrard and her husband Jeff of Colorado, and Sharon Louise White of McMahan; his grandchildren, Thomas Patty and Jessica De Groot, Christopher and Adam Mothersole, Hannah Bones, Lloyd and Jacquelyn White, and Zachary and Bailey Sherrard; many other relatives and friends.
Visitation will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8, 2006, at McCurdy Funeral Home in Lockhart. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday in the McCurdy Memorial Chapel with Rev. Bob Hahn officiating. Interment with full military honors will follow in Jeffrey Cemetery in McMahan. Pallbearers will be David Mothersole, Gene Smith, Jr., Robert Bones, Jim De Groot, Domingo Setien and Victor Armstrong, III. Honorary pallbearers will be Thomas Patty, Lloyd White, Christopher and Adam Mothersole, and Zachary and Jeff Sherrard.
Arrangements were made under the care and guidance of McCurdy Funeral Home, 105 E. Pecan St., Lockhart.