GRANBURY — Mary Ruth Seale Smith joined her Lord and Savior on Jan. 31, 2012 at the age of 84.
Funeral: 2:00 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012, at Granbury First United Methodist Church. Burial: Holly Hills Memorial Park. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Wiley Funeral Home.
Memorials: Memorial gifts may be made to the Women’s Wednesday Club, 117 West Doyle, Granbury, Texas 76048 or the Hood County Library, 222 North Travis, Granbury, Texas 76048.
Born on June 5, 1927, in Abilene, Ruth grew up in Fort Worth. She was the only child of Carilla and John D. Seale, Jr. Ruth graduated from Arlington Heights High School and attended TCU. She married Alden Kermit Smith on Oct. 30, 1945 and began their 66 years together.
In 1951 they made their home in Granbury, eventually purchasing Bond Feed Store, which became their family business for 23 years. Ruth was active in Women’s Wednesday Club, Friends of the Library for Hood County, Elizabeth Crockett Chapter of DAR, Comanche Peak Chapter of DRT, the Opera Guild, and the Beautification Council. She also enjoyed horseback riding and quilting. Ruth was the secretary to the superintendent of Granbury ISD for many years.
Music has been a major part of Ruth’s life. She was an accompanist for vocal and instrumental soloists, chorus groups, civic and club programs, school musicals, Melody Belles, and was the organist at First United Methodist Church of Granbury. One of Ruth’s most notable accomplishments was composing the music and lyrics to Granbury’s sesquicentennial play, “Holding It Together for Hood” in 1986.
Ruth had a love for Mexico, the Mexican people and the Spanish language which led Ruth to teach ESL to Spanish speaking people for several years through Community Education. She and Kermit traveled extensively in Mexico, New Mexico, and South Texas, and had deep feelings for the people and their culture.
Ruth researched, compiled, and published several genealogy books for her family. She also published books to give her children and grandchildren about her life, family travels and events, including humorous sayings and events that occurred over the years.
Survivors: Ruth is survived by her husband of 66 years, Kermit Smith of Granbury; son, David Smith and wife, Chanda, of Granbury; daughter, Julie Smith Walker and husband, Buddy, of Garland; grandchildren, Emily Smith Low of Frisco, Kristin Smith Glenney and husband, Todd, of Grand Prairie, Jeff Walker and wife, Daniela, of Garland, John Walker of Allen, Sloane Smith Alford and husband, Jason, of Granbury; great grandchildren, Abby Patchett, Cole Remington, Cade Remington, Avery Glenney, Max Glenney, John Gabriel Walker, Anna Julia Walker and Kyelee Alford.
Wiley Funeral Home
Granbury, 817-573-3000
