Samuel Theodore "Ros" Smith Jr.

Samuel Theodore "Ros" Smith Jr., of Conway passed away on Thursday, January 24, 2019, at the age of 92. He was born on March 11, 1926 in Little Rock, Ark., the oldest son of Catherine Hayes Smith and Samuel Theodore Smith. Ros attended Conway Public Schools and Kemper Military Institute (KMI) in Boonville, Missouri. After graduating from KMI in 1942, he joined the United States Navy and was briefly stationed in Dallas, Texas before attending Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi. In June of 1944, he was selected for admission to the U. S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He graduated in 1947, earning a Bachelor of Engineering degree and the rank of ensign. Ensign Smith was assigned to the USS Oakland and stationed in San Francisco, California, after which he was sent to San Diego, California to gunnery school. He returned home to Conway, Arkansas during his leave and married Carolyn Camp in January, 1948. They were married for 61 years until her death in 2009. After their wedding, Ros and Carolyn returned to San Diego for his assignment aboard the USS Oakland. It set sail for the Western Pacific and China where Ros served in the mission to rescue and evacuate Americans from revolutionary China. He was then transferred to the USS Springfield and returned to San Francisco after a 15-month tour of duty. Ros continued his military service as a pilot. His career began with propellers and ended with jet engines. He attended advanced flight training in Pensacola and Key West, Florida, and in 1955, Lt. Smith resigned from active duty after a stint in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he served as an instructor of advanced flight training. He continued to serve with the U.S. Naval Reserve beginning in 1956 and completed his active duty and reserve service with the rank of Captain. He retired from the Reserve in Millington, Tennessee in 1973. Ros and his wife Carolyn returned to Conway, where he became a leader in business and active in support of the community. He joined his father at Smith Auto Company (Smith Ford, Inc.) and in the years that followed became president of the dealership. Ros was former president of the Conway Chamber of Commerce, former president of the Conway Rotary Club, board member of Security Savings and Loan, chair of the Arkansas Automobile Dealers Association, former chair of the Public Facilities board, a member of the Conway Public Service Commission Board and chair of the Arkansas Credit Council. He was also chosen as the Arkansas Automobile Association's Dealer of the Year and was their nominee for the national Time Magazine Quality Dealer Award. His work in the community included helping establish the Faulkner Community Fund, now known as the United Way of Central Arkansas. He also served on the boards of the Women's Shelter of Central Arkansas and was a board member of the Conway Development Corporation. He was committed to higher education in Arkansas. Ros was a long-time member of First United Methodist Church, where he served in many capacities. Throughout his life, Ros took great pleasure in the company of family and friends. His and Carolyn's many travels, his dedication to the U.S. Navy and his fellow service members, and his participation in the business and local community brought him immense joy. Ros is survived by his son S. T. "Ted" Smith III (Laurie), daughter Catherine Smith Ketcheside (Kenne), all of Conway, Ark., and son David Smith (Barbara) of Richmond, Va.; by his grandchildren Sam Ketcheside, Cate Ketcheside McConnell (Kirk) of Conway, Ark., Emily Smith Munn (Josh) of Houston, Texas, Margaret Smith (Adam Lee) of San Francisco, Calif., Laura Smith (PJ Podesta) of San Francisco, Calif., and Jennifer Smith Culbertson (Patch) of Nashville, Tenn.; and, by his great-grandchildren Catherine Caroline and Lee McConnell, Charlotte Grace Munn, and Lucy Sara Podesta. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law, Nancy C. Smith of Little Rock, Ark., and Jo Smith of Conway, Ark., and their families. Ros was preceded in death by his wife Carolyn, his parents, and by his brothers, Gallatin Hayes Smith and Thomas Warren Smith, MD. The family is grateful to have had his love, inspiration and guidance for so many years and wishes to thank his many friends and relatives who continued to visit and provide support. They wish to express their appreciation for the loving care given to him by his devoted caregivers with Home Instead, who allowed him to remain at home, and to Arkansas Hospice for providing comfort in his final months. The interment will be at Oak Grove Cemetery in Conway, Arkansas on Wednesday, January 30 at 12:30pm. Following the interment, a memorial service will be held at 2:00pm at First United Methodist Church, 1610 Prince Street in Conway. The family will receive friends in the Fellowship Hall immediately after the memorial service. Memorials in remembrance of Ros can be made to the permanent endowment fund of First United Methodist Church, Conway. Arrangements are under the direction of Roller McNutt Funeral Home, Conway, Ark.