Obituaries

Wilbur Lawrence Smither III

Photo of Wilbur Lawrence Smither III
Wilbur Lawrence Smither III passed away on July 3, 2015 in Denver, Colo., following a brief illness. Born in Houston, Texas on Aug. 4, 1946 to Ruth Felder Henderson and Robert Bush Smither, he was reared in Huntsville, Texas where he graduated high school. He went to Southern Methodist University in Dallas where he majored in business/accounting and earned a B.A. and M.B.A. After teaching accounting for a year at SMU, he joined the consulting practice of Arthur Andersen & Co. where he became a partner. In 1978, he married and became 'best buddies' with Martha Lynn Mossman. They spent many happy years traveling, golfing, being with family and friends and supporting each other's work and community activities. In 1987, he joined Blockbuster Video as Chief Information Officer and later moved to Mary Kay Cosmetics in the same capacity. In 1997, he was a Regional Managing Partner for the Year 2000 (Y2K) Practice of IBM and retired in 2000. Wilbur served on the board of The Winston School, designed for students with learning differences. He was Board President for five years and continued his alliance until present. Following retirement, he and Martha purchased a lake home in Hot Springs Village, Ark. but also maintained their Dallas connections. They enjoyed lots of golf and making many new friends. Both became active in the community, and Wilbur focused on how to help improve life in the Village. He served as the HSV POA Committee Chair of the Research and Strategic Planning Committee, Board President of the Friends of the Village and received jointly with Martha the POA President's Award for community service in 2012. He was always available for advice and counsel to those who served the community. In 2012, he initiated the Ouachita Speaker Series which brings thought-provoking speakers to the Village addressing a wide variety of subjects. Now having completed its third year, audiences are increasing. Wilbur is preceded in death by his parents and two older brothers, Bob and John. He is survived by his wife, Martha; his two sisters-in-law, Trudie and Stephanie Smither and their families. Stephanie's family includes John Kerr and his son, Amon Smither, Ashley, her husband, Curt and their children Austin, Madison and Jack Langley, and Paige and her husband Todd and their sons, Wells, John David, Pierce, Hill and Blake Johnson. He embraced Martha's family as if they were his own. He was preceded in death by her parents, Hobart and Betty Mossman and her brother Stuart Mossman. Wilbur is survived by Rebecca and Dave Marcum, her children Evan, Tori, and Drew Risinger, his sons Cody and Josh Marcum and their daughter Gabi Marcum. He adored his family and enjoyed being with them whenever possible. A memorial service will be on Wednesday, July 8 at 2 p.m. in Hot Springs Village at Christ of the Hills Methodist Church. Interment will be on Saturday, July 11 at 11:00 in Huntsville, Texas at the Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will precede at 10:00 at Sam Houston Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, you may make a gift to the Wilbur and Martha Smither Music Education Room in the new Fine Arts Building of The Winston School, 5707 Royal Lane, Dallas, Texas 75229 or to the Ouachita Speaker Series, P.O. Box 8132, Hot Springs Village, AR 71910. Condolences may be made at shmfh.com.

Published July 6, 2015

Upcoming Events