Obituary of Ernest Smith

Ernest Thomasson "Tommy" Smith, 81, of Lynchburg, passed away Monday, May 26, 2008. Born on Saturday, July 10, 1926, he was the son of the late Ernest Terrell Smith and Emma Gertrude Williams Smith. During WWII, he served in the U.S. Navy as a corps-man from 1944-1946. He served in the Army Reserves from 1949-1952. He also served with the Lynchburg Life Saving and First Aid Crew for a number of years. On June 6, 1953 he and Naomi Vine Brooks were married in College Hill Baptist Church by the Rev. J.J. Bowman. He was a faithful and dedicated member of College Hill Baptist Church where he served on the Board of Deacons and was treasurer of the board. He was also treasurer of his Sunday school class, the Fellowship Bible Class. He had also served on the Finance Committee and the Property Committee at various times through the years. Tommy was proud of his profession, retiring from the Lynchburg Fire Department in 1981 as a Battalion Chief after an exemplary career spanning 32 years. He was a charter member of the original Local 1146 of the International Association of Fire Fighters and a proud Honorary Member of the Lynchburg Fire Fighters Association, IAFF Local 1146. He was also a long standing members of the Virginia State Fire Fighters Association and was a member of the Lynchburg Chapter of the Fraternal Order of Fire Fighters. He enjoyed telling stories of his many experiences to younger fire fighters and proudly supported them, the Fire Department and the Fire Fighters Association. Tommy was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather. He was most happy when he was with his family celebrating special occasions. He also enjoyed watching his grandsons play sports, especially baseball, which was his favorite sport. He was predeceased by his parents, one brother, Malvin Terrell Smith, three sisters, Margurite Frances Smith, Dorothy May Smith Fitzgerald and Lois Gertrude Smith McFaden. Surviving are his wife Naomi; one son, Anthony Vern Smith and his wife, Sharon; one daughter, Angela Vine Smith Price; two grandsons, James Stephen Price, Jr. and Eric Thomasson Price and their father James Stephen Price Memorial contributions may be made to College Hill Baptist Church-Building Fund, 1101 Floyd Street, Lynchburg, Va., 24501 or Lynchburg Fire and EMS Foundation-(Designinate for Lynchburg Fire Dept. Pipes and Drums), P.O. Box 2327, Lynchburg, Va., 24505. A celebration of Tommy's life will be held Thursday, May 29, 2008 at 1:00 PM in College Hill Baptist Church with the Rev. Andrew Grose officiating. The family will receive friends tonight from 6:30-8:30 PM at the funeral home. Interment will be in Spring Hill Cemetery. Diuguid Funeral Service-Waterlick Chapel (434-237-2722) is serving the family.