William “Herschel” Smith, age 80 of Hartburg, Texas, passed away at his home on Wednesday, May 25, 2022. Services to honor Herschel will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, May 31, 2022 at Dorman Funeral Home with Rev. Jeff Bell officiating. Interment and military honors provided by the Southeast Texas Veterans Group will immediately follow at King Cemetery. Family and friends will gather for a visitation from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM on Tuesday, May 31, 2022 at Dorman Funeral Home.
Herschel was born on December 25, 1941 in Orange, Texas to parents, R.C. and Idell Smith. He proudly served his country in the United States Air Force where was nominated and appointed as a Young Tiger and a lifetime member of the 4252d Strategic Wing (SAC). After the military, Herschel earned his degree in Electronics and proceeded to work as the Supervisor of the Communications Department for the City of Beaumont, where he retired after over twenty years of dedicated service. He loved the outdoors and fishing was his most favorite thing in the world. Herschel also enjoyed gardening and antiquing. He could always find a way to fix and repurpose his finds, as he was never wasteful. Herschel was always on the lookout for a tree that had fallen to cut for firewood. After his retirement, he began woodworking and building items for his family and friends that will be cherished for years to come. Herschel loved his family and he will be greatly missed by all those he impacted with his strong character and whit.
He is preceded in death by his parents, R.C. and Idell Smith, son-in-law Jim Raposa and his dog “Bud”.
Those left to cherish his memory are his children; Michael Smith and his wife Monica of Groves, TX, Cheryl Raposa of Orange, TX, Leah Fontenot and her husband Milton of Kountze, TX and Monique Hunt and her husband Rob of Porter, TX, his cherished dog “Monkey”, brother Raymond Smith and his wife Gwen of Orange, TX, sister Colleen Miller and her husband Weldon of Lumberton, TX, seventeen grandchildren, five great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, and many wonderful friends.
Pallbearers to honor their “Popee”, will be Herschel’s Grandsons: Justin Orr, Eric Becker, William Hunt, Cody Becker, Chase Smith, Jason Becker, and Great grandson Malachi Orr. Honorary Pallbearers will be grandsons Jamie Hunt of St Louis Missouri and Hunter Smith, who is currently off the coast of Japan stationed in the United States Navy, both unable to attend the funeral.
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