Edward N. "Ed" Smith

Edward Nathan (Ed) Smith Edward Nathan (Ed) Smith, 75, of Huntsville, Texas, passed away on November 3, 2013. He was born in Patterson, Louisiana, on January, 27, 1938, the son of Dayton and Mary Bellard Smith. He is survived by his wife, Margaret Love Smith, his son, Edward Anthony (Tony) Smith, and daughter-in-law, Betsy Ann Hiers-Smith of Alexandria, Virginia. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Katherine Anne Smith, and his sister, Edna Louise Clark. Ed graduated from China High School, in China, Texas, in 1955, and then entered Sam Houston State Teachers College where he completed a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with a focus in the field of computer science, still in its infant stages. It was at Sam Houston the summer of 1964, that he met his future wife, Margaret with whom he shared 48 wonderful years. After college, he began his 30 year career as a system’s analyst, first at Southland/St. Regis Paper Mill in Lufkin, Texas, where he designed and implemented a paper trim program that garnered attention from mills as far away as New York and Canada. After ten years at Southland, he had an opportunity to join the City of Austin as Systems Manager for the city. Under Ed’s leadership, the water billing system was converted from a manual system to computerized version. Then, in 1977, Ed and his family moved to Huntsville where he accepted a position with Administrative Data Processing at TDCJ. After several years in that department, he transferred to New Construction, ending his career with TDCJ as Data Administrator to the Engineering Directorate. After leaving TDCJ, he focused his energy on his herd of Red Brangus cattle, tending to the family farm in San Jacinto County, and on his “retirement job” as a math specialist at Montgomery College, now Lone Star College, for almost ten years. Ed was active in community affairs for many years. He was instrumental, along with a group of other men, in establishing the first youth soccer league in Huntsville. He was a supporter as well as a coach of both Little Dribblers and Huntsville Youth Baseball during the years of his son Tony’s involvement in youth league sports. Ed served the city as a member of the Huntsville Planning Commission for ten years, and was involved in a number of important decisions regarding the city’s future growth. Although not a member of Rotary, he and Margaret hosted a number of foreign exchange students over the years who were sponsored by the Rotary Club. During the ranching years, Ed and Margaret were active in the Walker County Calf Scramble program, donating a calf each year for a young person to raise and show. Ed was blessed to be part of a loving church family at the Huntsville Church of Christ. Visitation will be from 6-7:30 p.m., Thursday, November 7, 2013, and a memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 8, 2013, at Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home, Huntsville, Texas (1700 Normal Park, 936-295-7300). Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery in Coldspring, Texas, later in the afternoon. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a memorial be made to the charity or organization of your choice. Those wishing to leave memorial condolences for the family may do so at www.shmfh.com.

Edward N. "Ed" Smith

January 27, 1938 - November 3, 2013