Thomas Poston Smith
May 11, 1934 ~ June 26, 2022

Thomas Poston Smith, age 88, passed away peacefully June 26, 2022 in Fort Worth, Texas. Visitation and services will be held at First Baptist Church in Valley Mills, Texas on July 2, 2022. Visitation will begin at 10 AM, and the church service at 11 AM. with full military honors.  Immediately following will be a graveside service at the Valley Mills Cemetery, under the direction of Foss Funeral Home.

Thomas (Tommy) was born on May 11, 1934 in Valley Mills, Texas to Madison Perry Smith and Ina Mae Poston Smith. Tommy grew up mostly in Valley Mills, Texas and graduated from Valley Mills High School in 1952. His father owned the Smith Lumber Company in Valley Mills where the whole family worked. Tommy started after school at twelve years old.

His first job after high school was as a telegraph operator for the Santa Fe railroad. With his first paycheck, he signed up for flying lessons due to a lifelong interest in flying and his first logged flight was July 31, 1952. Over his lifetime, he flew all types of equipment (airplanes and helicopters) ending up with almost 18,000 flight hours upon his last flight in February 2013.

Drafted into the Army in 1954, he trained as an aircraft mechanic and ended his two years of service in Orleans, France. He then began college at the University of Texas in 1956, but ultimately graduated from Baylor University night school in 1963. While at Baylor, he met the love of his life, Gene Ann Evans Smith and they were married June 28, 1958. He continued flying lessons for airplanes and helicopters between classes. In addition, he and his father through the Smith Lumber Company engaged in residential and commercial construction (including building the Valley Mills First Baptist Church.)

He got his first job after leaving the family business at Central Texas Iron Works because he had built a barn for its owner and Mr. Winchell wanted to hire the man who flew whirly birds to fly his company plane. He worked through various positions eventually ending up as Personnel Manager.

In 1967, Tommy and his family moved to Fort Worth, Texas. Through Southern Airways, a civilian contractor for the United States Army Primary Helicopter School at Fort Wolters in Mineral Wells, Texas, he trained helicopter pilots for the Vietnam War for two years.

Starting in the seventies, he worked for Petroleum Helicopter, Inc. where he flew offshore to oil rigs off the Gulf Coast and California as a pilot/mechanic until his retirement. After retirement, he spent time traveling with Gene Ann visiting National Parks and air fields across the country. He spent many hours at his grandchildren's athletic events and activities. He and his brother, Don, worked the Smith Brothers Farm together in Mosheim for many years.

He was preceded in death by wife, Gene Ann Smith, his parents M.P. and Ina Mae Smith as well as his brothers, Tex Smith, John David Smith and Don Stanton Smith. Survivors include his sons, Russell W. Smith and his wife Linda, Kevin B. Smith and his wife Lisa, his daughter Melanie Fram and her husband Fred as well as his grandchildren, Leanne Smith, Max Smith and his spouse Jessica, Madie Nelson and her spouse Matt, and Meredith Yeary and her spouse Nick.

Should friends and family desire, memorials may be made to:  Valley Mills Cemetery Association, PO Box 253, Valley Mills, TX 76689 .

You may sign the online register book at www.fossfuneralhome.com