Don Buford Smith

Don Buford Smith, age 79, of Pine Bluff, died Wednesday, January 21, 2015 at Jefferson Regional Medical Center after an extended illness. Survivors include his wife, Frances Pearson Smith; his brother, Bruce Smith and wife Sunny, of Humble, Texas; his son and daughter-in-law David and Sina Smith of Houston, Texas; and his daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Duke Wheeler of Collierville, TN; grandchildren, Elizabeth and Patrick Wheeler, both of Collierville, Tennessee; along with many nieces and nephews, and family friends. Don was born on April 15, 1935 in Foreman, Arkansas, a son of the late Thomas Payton Smith and Dovie Matilda Green Smith. He graduated from Hooks High School in 1954 in Hooks, Texas, from Texarkana Junior College in Texarkana, Texas in 1956, and from the University of Texas in 1960 with a Bachelor of Arts in Microbiology. Early in his career he worked at Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas and the Collum and Carney Clinic in Texarkana. In 1961 he moved to Pine Bluff and accepted a position in the Safety Division at Pine Bluff Arsenal. After the transition into the National Center for Toxicological Research, Don was Lab Chief for the Virology Department. He retired in 1995 after 34 years of Federal service. He served in the Army Reserves as a medic in the 489th Engineering Battalion. Don loved music from an early age, and played the Sousaphone in the Hooks High School Marching Band. He was also a member of the Chancel Choir at Lakeside United Methodist Church. Predeceasing him in death are his brother, Thelmer Payton Smith of Huntsville, Alabama; and his sister, Allene Smith Harwell, of DeKalb, Texas. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 24, 2015 at 2:30 p.m., at Lakeside Methodist Church in Pine Bluff. Interment will be in Graceland Cemetery by Fuller Hale-South Funeral Services. Memorials may be made to Lakeside Methodist Church, 1500 Olive Street, Pine Bluff, Arkansas 71601, or to the charity of one's choice. Online condolences: FullerFunerals.com.