Edmund Franklin Smith

Edmund Franklin Smith, age 89 of North County Home Road, Lexington passed away Friday afternoon February 12, 2016 at the Brian Center following a brief illness. Funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm Sunday February 14, 2016 at Mt. Tabor United Church of Christ where he was a member with Rev. Darrell Sluder officiating and burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends following the service in the fellowship hall. Edmund was born in Davidson County March 30, 1926 to William Carl and Hattie Crotts Smith. He met his wife of 69 years, Mary Lee Parks in high school and was married shortly after graduation on November 6, 1943. He served in the U.S. Army from 1944 until 1946 as an infantryman. He saw action in France, Germany, Austria and Italy, and was preparing for the invasion of Japan when the war ended. He finished serving his time in Fort Sam Houston, Texas and was honorably discharged. After he was discharged from the military he lived and worked in the Erlanger village as an electrician, and later worked for the United States Postal Service for 29 years until he retired in 1986. He was an avid hunter and sometimes a fisherman, grew tremendous amounts of vegetables in his gardens and loved his family, church, the outdoors and sports, especially the Atlanta Braves. He was a lifelong member of Mt. Tabor United Church of Christ and sang in the choir and the men’s chorus for over 50 years. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Mary Parks Smith on January 3, 2013; sisters, Virgie Smith, Mildred Beck and Arlene Smith; brothers, Artis Smith, Baxter Smith and Colen Smith. He is survived by two sons, Gary Smith and wife Barbara and Keith Smith and wife Cheryl; one daughter, Patricia Corry and husband Don all of Lexington; one brother, Boyd Smith and wife Kathleen; grandchildren, Jason Smith, Aaron Smith and wife Jessa, Matthew Smith, Ryan Smith, Brian Paden and wife Megan and Lynley Paden; great-grandchildren, Gitana Smith, Brianna Smith, Vada Smith, Aurora Smith, Kailey Paden and Christopher Paden. The family would like to thank a special caregiver, Perry Kearns, for all his concern, care and love in looking after our father and to the staff at the Brian Center for his care the last few months. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Mt. Tabor UCC Music and Choir fund, 1002 East Holly Grove Road, Lexington, NC 27292 Online Condolences may be made at www.davidsonfuneralhome.net