Oddie V. “Sonny” Smith, born July 28, 1935, in Kaufman County, Texas, died Sunday, December 21, 2014, at his home in Tool, Texas, at 6:47 p.m. Sonny passed peacefully, surrounded by his family.
Sonny was preceded in death by his wife Emily Sue Smith, brothers Bobby Smith and Ronnie Smith, mother Vera Smith, and father Ransom Smith. He is survived by one son, Mark Smith, of Tool, two grandsons, Nathan Smith, also of Tool, and Dustin Smith of Athens, brothers William Smith of Gun Barrel City, Harold Smith of Tool, Jimmie Smith of Gun Barrel City, and James Smith of Kemp.
Visitation will be at Eubank Funeral Home in Mabank on Friday, December 26, 6:00-8:00 p.m. The service will be 10:00 a.m. at Christian Life Center Church, with Pastor Jeffrey Bryce officiating, and interment immediately following at King Cemetery. The family invites everyone to join them at Mark Smith’s home in Tool, following the interment.
Sonny was raised in Kemp, and loved to brag about being part of the first band at Kemp High School. After High School, he enlisted as a gunner in the United States Army 49th Armored Division July 1956 – January 1959, during which time he served two years as a tank commander in Germany. He had planned to reenlist, but was swept off his feet by the love of his life, Emily Sue Moody, and gave up active duty for family life. Sonny and Sue were married in February of 1960.
Sonny worked as a squeeze lift operator for Sears Roebuck Company for many years, retiring in July, 1997.
Sonny was a member of Aley Family Worship Center. He looked forward to Sunday and Wednesday services, and the occasional movie night. He especially enjoyed singing and playing his guitar.
Sonny loved God, his country, family, football, tabasco sauce, fishing, ice cream and peaches, ice cream and applesauce, ice cream and chocolate, and ice cream and cake! Sonny was a model citizen, father, husband, grandpa, worker, and friend.
We will miss Sonny. We’ll miss his smile, his stories (though often a little confusing), his laughter, and his “I’m doing alright!” any time we asked how he was feeling.
Goodbye, Oddie V., Sonny, Grandpa, Dad. May you rest in peace.