Henry Wayne Smith

Henry Wayne Smith passed away in a Weatherford hospital on Sunday, January 20, 2008.Henry Wayne Smith was born November 20, 1915 in Springtown and had lived there all his life. He was a graduate of Springtown High School, attended Weatherford College and graduated from Texas Tech in 1940 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration.During Would War II he served in the 36th Division as an Army Medic and was captured by the Germans in September 1943, and served as a Prisoner of War in Stalag IIB and Stalag IIIB for 23 months. He was a Purple Heart recipient.In December 1947, he received a political appointment as a Rural Letter Carrier on route 1 Springtown, where he served for 35 years, retiring in 1983.He was a member of Couts Memorial United Methodist Church and was an active member of the Stewards for Christ Sunday school class.He was a charter member of the Springtown Chamber of Commerce, the Springtown Lions Club and was a member of the Parker County chapter of National Association of Retired Federal Employees.He was active in the Weatherford College Alumni Association and was honored in 2007 with the Distinguished Alumni Award. He was a member of the Texas Tech Alumni Association.He was a member of both National and Texas Rural Letter Carriers Association. In 2005 he was recognized as the retired carrier of the year by the Texas Rural Letter Carriers Association.He was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Smith; brother, J. Weldon Smith; sister-in-laws, Zada Wiggins Smith and Lanita Smith.Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Charlsta Smith; two daughters, Karen Smith of Springtown and Kathy Smith of Weatherford; brother, Howard P. Smith of Abilene; sister-in-law, Dorothy Reynolds; one nephew; three nieces; and several great and great-great nieces and nephews.Funeral will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 23, 2008 at Couts Memorial United Methodist Church, 802 N. Elm Street, in Weatherford, conducted by Reverend Tim Jarrell assisted by Reverend John Johnson. Burial will follow in Oakland Cemetery in Weatherford.The family will receive guests 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at White's Funeral Home, in Weatherford.In lieu of flowers, memorials if desired may be made to Couts Memorial United Methodist Church building fund or Weatherford College Foundation.