Wayne Clark Smith, 73, of Leadmine, West Virgina, passed into eternal life on December 25, 2022, surrounded by his loving family. He was born April 25, 1949, at Parsons, WV, a son of the late Denver and Ethel Raines Smith. On April 5, 1969, he was married to the love of his life, the former Mary Jane Watring, who survives.
He was the proud father of two sons who survive, Chad Whitney Smith and wife Penny of Hambleton, WV and Jason Lee Smith and wife Lisa of Leadmine, WV. He was the proud papaw of Adair and husband Zach, Trent, Karlee, Avery and Camille. He was the proud great papaw of Asa and Zailee.
Also surviving are two brothers, Hugh DeMotto and the late Magdalene DeMotto of Red Creek, WV and John Smith and wife Sherri of Parsons, WV. Preceding him in death are three brothers, Jim Smith and wife Carol, Warren Smith, Frank Smith and wife Jeanne and two sisters, Rebecca Smith and Norma Parsons
Born and raised in Tucker County, he spent his early years growing up on a dairy farm, rising early to milk cows before going to school. He loved being outside and going fishing and swimming in the river.
During his teen years he was involved in his youth group at what now is known as St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. He was a proud member of the award winning PHS marching band all four years of high school and played many instruments, but the cornet/trumpet brought him awards for his talent. He was given the opportunity to compete in all state band.
After high school it was off to Fairmont State, but Uncle Sam called, and he enlisted in the US Navy in September 1969. During his boot camp, the ability to play the trumpet well gave him the opportunity to play in the Navy band for ceremonies for graduating classes each week. Upon his graduation from boot camp, he attended navigation school in Newport, RI where he excelled in his class. Upon completion of navigation training, he reported for duty aboard the USS Austin where he served tours of duty in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and North Atlantic. He was honorably discharged with the rank of E-5 after four years of service.
He came home to Tucker County, the land he loved, to make his home and support folks he had known most of his life. Finding employment with First National Bank of Parsons as a teller, he rose rapidly through the banking ranks. In 1982 he was hired at Garrett National Bank as Vice President of Loans. This gave him the opportunity to help folks who needed assistants in many ways. He later took over as the lead auditor for M & T Bank which merged with Garrett National and traveled extensively throughout Maryland and Pennsylvania. After another merge he sought work at Grant County Bank, there he worked as a branch manager/loan officer for 5 years at their Riverton, WV Branch before being transferred to the Davis Branch as Regional Manager and Commercial loan officer over three branch offices. Davis is where he excelled in being able to help young business people get established and mentor them down the path to success. He made the largest loans in bank history and had established a reputation for being honest and candid with those seeking financial help for their long-time businesses or looking to open a new operation.
He was a member of the Tucker County Development Authority where he had served as President for the past eleven years and had been influential in development within the county.
He had a passion for farming, raising Black Angus cattle and taking care of the land he loved. He was awarded the WV Conservation Farmer of the Year for Tucker County in 2016 for his progressive work on proper water supplies for cattle and a feed barn geared to protect his herd and the environment.
He had been a member of the St. Paul’s United Methodist Church since he was a young boy when it was an E.U.B. church. He has served as Treasurer for 22 years and was heavily involved with the workings of the church. Through his efforts, he and his siblings set up an endowment with the Tucker Community Foundation to support St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in memory of his parents. (Denver and Ethel Smith)
Another one of his passions was the mission field helping those less fortunate. He had been going to Sucre, Bolivia with a mission team since 1991 helping with the building of a Christian University, two orphanages, re-hab center, church and currently a school. He had seen lives changed though the work of the team over the last twenty plus years and is now seeing the fruits of the labor and as it is being passed on to a new generation. He had always seen his mission in life to be of service to his fellowman.
The family will receive friends at the Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Parsons, WV on Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m. Final rites will be conducted at the funeral home on Thursday, December 29, 2022, at 11 a.m. The Reverend Justin Jones and The Reverend Neil Parsons will officiate and interment will follow at the Flanagan Hill Cemetery at Red Creek, WV. The family suggest that expressions of sympathy be in the form of contributions to a Bolivian Orphanage in Sucre, Bolivia, c/o Tucker Community Foundation, PO Box 491, Parsons, WV. 26287. The Lohr & Barb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for Wayne Clark Smith. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.lohrbarbfuneralhome.com