David Rae Smith

David Rae Smith passed away on Monday, December 13, 2021, at 88 years of age. He was the son of Fred and Keggy Smith. David graduated from Brackenridge High School in San Antonio, Texas, and then studied mechanical engineering at The University of Texas at Austin. He served two years active duty in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and then eight years in the Army Reserve as a fixed-wing and helicopter pilot. His long flying career included pleasure, charter, business, and airline flying. His hobby was restoring and flying World War II aircraft in air shows. David lived in San Antonio for 48 years where he owned a welding supply company. David was an active member of Trinity Baptist Church for 38 years. He served as a deacon and taught Sunday school. Later in life, David and Gloria moved to the family ranch in Lometa, Texas, and joined First Baptist Church Lometa. He raised buffalo and ostrich and served as the business manager for Gloria's counseling business. David was very active in Lometa Lions Club and coordinated the Lometa Diamondback Jubilee for 15 years and he also served as a Lampasas County Commissioner for four years. He was diagnosed with inclusion body myositis in 2011 and outlived his initial prognosis by quite a few years. David was married to Gloria Porter Smith for 67 years and had three daughters. He is survived by his wife, Gloria; daughters Ava and Bob Perrill of San Antonio, Stacy and Bill Pauly of Lometa, and Brae and Charles Jacobson of San Antonio; his grandsons and their families include Sam and Candace Pauly and their daughters, Clara and Amelia, Mac Pauly, and Ty and Kylie Pauly in Lometa and Chase and Conner Jacobson in San Antonio. David's service will be held at First Baptist Church Lometa on Saturday, December 18, 2021, with visitation at 10 a.m. and the service at 11 a.m.