Dates
Darrell Smith, beloved husband, father and friend to many, passed on to Glory with his family by his side on July 11, 2017 in Dallas Methodist Hospital. He fought the good fight and has finished the race.
Darrell was born April 10, 1937 in Monroe, LA. He grew up in Fairbanks, LA in those wonder years when they could roam the bayous and rivers, hunting and fishing and exploring freely. He graduated from Ouachita Parish High School and then in 1960 from Northeast Louisiana State College with a degree in Pharmacy. He practiced Pharmacy for over 55 years, all but 5 of those years in San Angelo, where he owned and operated Concho Drug, opened the first discount Pharmacies in the B-W stores, and later in the Gibson’s. In 1968, he bought Salvato Drug and operated it 40 years as Lakeview Drug and later Lakeview Saveall Pharmacy. He also owned and operated the hospital pharmacy at Baptist Memorial Hospital for 10 years. His Pharmacy career was a perfect fit for him as he loved people and being able to help them. He was always studying how to make his practice better and more effective, and that led to several firsts in his practice. He installed the first computer designed for retail Pharmacy in San Angelo, and also the first IV Pharmacy as an adjunct to Saveall Mediquip, the durable medical equipment company he added to Lakeview Drug. He also opened Mediquip locations in Midland, Brownwood, Corpus Christi, and Brady.
All this time he also was very involved in Christian Ministry, truly his first love. Always active in his church serving his Lord, first at College Hills Baptist Church and then for 40 years at First Baptist, as a deacon and Sunday School teacher. In the mid 1980’s he became the teacher for the Business Men’s Bible Class. The BMBC is said to be the oldest continuously broadcast religious program in Texas, having been on the radio since 1929. As a part of that ministry, which he so loved, he then began to do the Easter Sunrise Service that has been held every year since 1959 on the Wilke Ranch. For the past few years another love has been pastoring a small mission church, Fort Concho Baptist, following the BMBC class every Sunday. He accepted the mission handed down to him by Ernestine Scott; and has written the Daily Promises for the Standard Times for many years now, another labor of love for him as one of the “31”. Darrell and the family have also been involved in mission work in Brazil and Ukraine, building a church and doing evangelism in Brazil and training and supporting pastors in Ukraine through The Gospel Vision Foundation. Darrell was truly a faithful servant and a powerful witness for our Lord.
He is survived by his wife of 61 wonderful years, Kay. He was always on adventure with his children, daughter Rebecca and Gary Oostveen, and son Gregory and Kathy Smith. Four grandchildren, Emily and Justin Oostveen and Kaydee Smith Holderness and Daylan Smith, and 3 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his adopted Brazilian children, daughter, Luzinha Palmborg and husband Paul and son, John and Lucia Silva, and brother in law, John and Betty Birkner and niece, Jennifer Kent and children. He is also survived by a host of friends who he loved as family, and who loved him. He was preceded in death by 2 sons, Scott and Andrew, his parents, and Kay’s parents and sister, Catherine.
Family visitation will be on Sunday, July 16 from 6 to 8PM at Harper Funeral Home. The funeral service will be at 10:00AM Monday, July 17,2017 at First Baptist Church with Dr. James Hassell and Richard Jackson officiating. Interment will follow at Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers for the service will be John Nolan, Rick Williams, Robert Lara, Thomas Bryant, Kim Coats, Dana Tipton, Max Sanders and Sam Espinoza. In lieu of flowers, please make any memorials in Darrell’s honor to Gospel Vision Foundation, First Baptist Church or the charity of your choice.