Obituary of O. Smith

MARION, VIRGINIA: DR. O.O. SMITH, JR., age 87, died Sunday, August 26, 2007 at his home in Marion. Dr. Smith was born November 16, 1919 to the late Oscar Orton and Ruth Reeves Smith in Roaring Gap, North Carolina. In 1926, he and his family moved to Independence, Virginia, Grayson County, where he grew up. Dr. Smith graduated from Independence High School in 1937. He earned his Bachelor Degree from Emory and Henry College in 1941 and his Doctor of Medicine Degree from the Medical College of Virginia in 1944. He served his surgical residency at the Mayo Clinic from 1945 to 1950. He was a member of the Smyth County Medical Society, Medical Society of Virginia, Past President and member of the Southwestern Virginia Medical Society, American Medical Association, Southern Medical Society, American Society of Abdominal Surgeons, Priestly Surgical Society of the Mayo Clinic, International College of Surgeons, member of the Mayo Clinic Alumni Association, and the Alumni Association of the Medical College of Virginia. He was also a member of the Emory and Henry College Board of Visitors. He began his practice in Marion at the Lee Memorial Hospital in 1950. He along with his cousin, Dr. Emmett V. Richardson, Sr. established Marion General Hospital in 1953. Later the two hospitals merged forming the Smyth County Community Hospital. As a founding father of Smyth County Community Hospital, he served as a member of the medical staff until his retirement in 1997. He served as a member of the Board of Directors and remained as President Emeritus of the Smyth County Community Hospital until his death. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club for more than 50 years and was a member of the First United Methodist Church since arriving in Marion. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife of 46 years, Anne Hunt Smith; two brothers, Charles Preston Smith and John Reeves Smith; two sisters, Mary Ruth Smith Orr and Cora Alta Smith Hoffman. Dr. Smith is survived by his wife, Nancy Neitch Orr Smith of Marion, Virginia; three daughters, Nancy Walters of Roanoke, Virginia, Betsy McKee and husband, Robert of Wayland, Massachusetts and Sarah Willis and husband, Michael of Union, Kentucky; one son, Dr. David Smith and wife, Dr. Mia Wessels of Abingdon, Virginia; two step-sons, Robert Patrick Orr and wife, Denise of Martinsburg, West Virginia and Derek Allen Orr and wife, Deborah of Marion, Virginia; one sister, Anna Price of Sparta, North Carolina; one brother, James A. Smith of Independence, Virginia; thirteen grandchildren, Robert and Kevin McKee, Christopher, Michael and Julia Smith, Josh, Lauren and Sydney Willis, Savannah, Julianne and Brennan Orr and Alexander and Nicole Orr; several nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of friends also survive. Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, August 29, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Jeff Lambert, Dr. Fred Austin, and Rev. Neville Mozingo officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Lawn Cemetery, Marion, Virginia. The family will receive friends Tuesday, August 28, 2007 from 7:00 until 9:00 p.m. at Seaver-Brown Chapel. Flowers will be appreciated or donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 115 South Church Street, Marion, Virginia 24354. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the family at www.seaverbrown.com. Seaver-Brown Funeral Service and Crematory is serving the Smith Family.