Sid Smith

Sid Smith, 86, passed away Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006, after a brief, serious illness. The funeral to honor Mr. Smith and celebrate his full life will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Shiloh United Methodist Church, where he was a very active and giving member, by the Rev. Matthew Farabow. A graveside service will follow immediately with full military honors. Mr. Smith was born April 17, 1920, to George E. and Carrie Smith of the Linwood area and resided the majority of his life in the Reeds and Tyro communities. He was a decorated veteran of World War II, having seen active duty in Africa, Sicily and Italy with the 3rd Army. Notable theaters of combat were Oran, Africa, the invasion of Sicily and the Anzio invasion. After his tour of duty in Europe, he returned to Fort Bragg to train new recruits as a platoon leader/drill instructor and was honorably discharged having completed his service to his country and to the Army with the rank of staff sergeant. Mr. Smith was awarded the American Defense Service Medal, the EAMET Campaign Medal and four Bronze Service Stars. Mr. Smith's distinguished business career included supervisory and management positions with both Burlington Industries and PPG Industries in Lexington. He served in various positions of his church, including the building committee and board of trustees. Mr. Smith served on the board of directors of Piedmont Telephone and was a member of Memorial Lodge No. 696, Ancient, Free, and Accepted Masons. Mr. Smith's true love in life was his wife of 57 years, Julia Smith, who passed away June 18, 2005. Surviving are his son, Edgar Waitman Smith and his wife, Arlene, of Charlotte; one sister, Ola Lookabill of Tyro; one granddaughter, Katherine "Katie" Marie Smith, a sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; two stepgrandsons, Cory Miles, a sophomore at Western Carolina University, and Bret Miles of Charlotte; and two very special members of his family, Amy Arthur of Winston-Salem and Mary Stokes of Lexington. The family will receive friends immediately following the services at the fellowship hall of the church. In lieu of flowers, Eddie Smith has requested that memorials to honor them both be sent to the foundation that was previously established to honor Mrs. Smith, The Julia W. Smith Foundation, c/o Shiloh United Methodist Church, 943 N.C. Highway 150 North, Lexington, NC 27295.