Wilber Smith Obituary

Wilber L. Smith VIRGINIA BEACH - Wilber Latermus "Smitty" Smith passed away peacefully in his home May 30, 2008. He was 84. He was born June 7, 1923, in Eure, N.C., in Gates County which he fondly referred to as "The Country." He was a member of Eure Christian Church and Bayview United Church of Christ. He was a devoted family member and friend and will be missed by all who knew and loved him. Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his parents, William Thomas Smith and Addie Lee Parker Smith and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, John Daniel Moore Sr. and Annie Lee Moorefield Moore. He was also preceded in death by his brothers, Fleetwood Roberts Smith and his wife Gertrude Felton Smith, Charlie Riddick Smith and Johnnie Wesley Smith; nephews, Lewis Carlton Johnson, John Daniel Moore III and Ervin Paul Tesmer; niece, Linda Moore Bowden; and brothers-in-law, William Hughes Moore and his wife Joyce Moore, David Lee Moore and John Daniel Moore Jr. and his wife Edna White Moore. Finally, a special group of four-legged family members, Rusty, Sockey, Benny, Spunker, Hogan and Lola Kitty Kitty. Mr. Smith graduated from Gatesville High School and enjoyed the many class reunions celebrated in various parts of Virginia and North Carolina beginning with their 50th year celebration in 1991. After graduating from high school, he moved to Norfolk where he began a career with the Naval Air Rework Facility (NARF) which became the only job he ever had. After serving his country from 1943 to 1946 in the Army-Air Force, where he was a crew member engaged in the repair of aircraft engines and bodies, he returned to NARF to become an aircraft mechanic and subsequently in 1952, he earned the title of instructor of aircraft mechanics. It was during his career at NARF that he was introduced to the love of his life, Lena, also known as "Sis," on a blind date arranged by their mutual friend Maymie Monday. A resident of Norfolk for most of his life, he moved to Virginia Beach in 2005, where he resided at Atria Hilltop briefly, then Silver Hill where he passed away. He cherished the fond memories of the close-knit group of neighbors in his and Lena's former neighborhood of Monticello Village. Mr. Smith enjoyed playing checkers, reading, words, astronomy, science fiction, television, soap operas and lively conversation with his nieces and nephews. He enjoyed varied tastes in music including that of Jimmy Buffet, Anne Murray and Paul McCartney. Mr. Smith is survived by his wife Lena May Moore Smith, with whom he would have celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary June 2, 2008. He is also survived by his daughter, Patricia Smith Liebler and her husband C.A. "Butch" Liebler; sisters-in-law, Harriette Long Smith and Ida Moore Walker; nieces, Evelyn Pruitt Slack, Martha Lee Pruitt, Mary Moore, Debra Moore Tesmer, Linda Smith Pigott and her husband Shannon Dwight Pigott, Sharon Smith Karibian, Katie Smith Johnson and Janet Moore Bell; nephews, Herbert Pruitt and wife Martha Pruitt, James Arthur Pruitt, John Kirby Smith and his wife Anne Butler Smith and Ronald Wayne Smith and his wife Delores Smith; and his beloved dog, Pooh Bear. The family would like to thank all those caregivers past and present. Each and every one of you made an impact on Mr. Smith's life and that of his family. A funeral will be held today at 10 a.m. in Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home and Crematory, Great Neck Chapel, Virginia Beach, by the Rev. Donald Marvin Warrick, Junior, long-time family friend and college classmate of Patty. Burial will be in Woodlawn Memorial Garden followed by a reception at Harbour Gate Condominiums. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.hollomon-brown.com.