William Smith

Waldo Smith, age 66, of Brenham, died Sunday, February 16, 2003, in a Houston hospital. Mr. Smith was born Sept. 17, 1936, in Brenham, TX, the son of Travis and Ivy Gummelt Smith. He attended Klump and Wesley Elementary schools and graduated from Brenham High School. In high school, he was active in FFA, serving as president of the local chapter as well as in area and state offices. He attained the FFA Lone Star Degree. Mr. Smith enjoyed participating in local and state dairy and beef cattle shows. Due to his grand champion animal and showmanship qualities at the Houston Stock Show, Mr. Smith was awarded the Cowling Scholarship on which he attended Texas A&M University. He returned to the family farm where he raised crops and cattle. In 1958, he married Patricia Stolz in Navasota. They made their home on S Ranch where they reared their two devoted children, Elizabeth Smith Lehrmann and Greg Smith, of whom they are so proud. Mr. Smith continued his agricultural interests by helping organize a local Young Farmers chapter, then serving as its president. Later, he accepted the office of president in the area and state organization. Following in his dad s footsteps, he became active in Soil Conservation Service endeavors. He served on the board of the Washington County SCS for the past 31 years during which time he was elected to two terms as state president and served on the SCS state board. He treasured the many friendships made during these years and considered these comrades of soil and water conservation some of his dearest friends. Mr. Smith loved people. He enjoyed leadership rolls and was honored to chair a meeting, offer a prayer, and speak at the funerals of several dear friends. He was extremely loyal, tenacious and even stubborn. He had an opinion on most things and was not afraid to defend a cause he believed in. He volunteered with Washington County Fair, Washington County Little League, Brenham Band Booster Club, Brenham Athletic Booster Club, Maifest Association, Governor s Committee of 100 and several agricultural committees. Mr. Smith was a member of Brenham Presbyterian Church, where he taught Sunday school, served several terms as elder and pastor nominating committee and served on the building and grounds and long range planning committees. He enjoyed being the fix-it man at church, where he built with the help of youth members, the play yard picket fence. He and friend Frank Eberle designed and built the sign in front of the sanctuary. He loved his church. Mr. Smith enjoyed working with his hands. He mastered welding in order to repair his own farm equipment, relaxed with his woodworking tools and designed and built the sizable addition to his home. He loved a challenge, lively debate or telling in his Will Rogers manner a joke or story to his coffee buddies or many friends. Mr. Smith was the co-owner of Big 4 Plant Food Co. until the time of his illness and retirement. He valiantly battled heart disease and lung cancer since 1999 and volunteered to participate in experimental cancer treatment clinical trial saying even if this research did not help him, perhaps it would be beneficial to future cancer patients. He persevered and remained stable on the experimental drugs longer than any other patient and was known at M.D. Anderson Hospital as The Miracle Man. He never lost his sense of humor and always had a joke to tell the nurses and doctors. They all knew him. When his heart began to fail, he entered St. Luke s Episcopal Hospital where he underwent numerous treatments since Nov. 1. Mr. Smith s vision of heaven was like going home at the end of a long day of work in the fields, seeing the welcoming lights of home, knowing a hearty meal and a host of loved ones were waiting. By God s grace, the banquet has begun for Waldo. Survivors include his wife, Pat Smith of Brenham; daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth and Hollis Lehrmann of Brenham; son, Greg Smith of College Station; mother, Ivy G. Smith of Brenham; grandchildren, William Lehrmann, Victoria Lehrmann and Alexandria Lehrmann; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Vicki and Tom Gergeni of College Station; nephews, Stephen Gergeni of San Francisco and Timm Gergeni of College Station; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins; and many faithful friends. He was preceded in death by his father; brother, Dr. James Smith; and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Victor and Bill Stolz of Navasota. Graveside service will be at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19 in Prairie Lea Cemetery in Brenham. A memorial service will follow at 4:00 p.m. in Brenham Presbyterian Church with Rev. Alan Farquhar and Rev. Ron Sunderland officiating. Visitation with the family will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Memorial Oaks Chapel today with a short devotional service at 7:30 p.m. Pallbearers will be John Barnhill, Jimmy Becker, John Dietz, Timm Gergeni, Norman Hodde, Russell Honerkamp, Edward Neumann, Jr., Clyde Sommers, Kermit Wahrmund, and Wilbur Wood. Honorary pallbearers will be Stanley Beard, Frank Eberle, Royce Lehrmann and directors of Washington County Soil Conservation Service. Memorials may be given to Brenham Presbyterian Church or the charity of your choice. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 W. Main St., in Brenham.