Dean Thomas Smith

Dean Thomas Smith, 92, passed away Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Bedford, Texas, following a long battle with Alzheimer’s. He was born Jul 17, 1931, in Mt Horeb, Wisconsin, to Henry and Mamie Smith.

Visitation will be at 6:00 PM Wednesday evening at Lucas Funeral Home on Precinct Line Road in Hurst, Texas, followed by a Wake at 7:00 PM.

Funeral Service will be at St Michael’s Catholic Church on Harwood Road in Bedford at 11:00 AM, followed by light lunch at the church. Calvary Cemetery procession will begin at 1:00 PM. Graveside service will be at 2:00 PM.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Bob, Paul, Hugh, and sister Betty Hobus; Patricia, his wife of 37 years and mother of his children.

He is survived by: daughters, Julie Campbell (Mike), Joan; sons David Smith (Michelle), Jim (Cherry), Jake (Debbie); six grandchildren, six great grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren; sisters-in-law Helen Smith and Marilu Smith; wife of 28 years, Helen; stepdaughter Linda Branton (Dale), stepson Todd Waddle (Debbie); and numerous nieces and nephews.

After growing up on a dairy farm in Mt Horeb, Wisconsin, and graduating Mt Horeb High School, he spent 2 years in the Navy in Jacksonville, Florida where he met Patricia. He and Pat and their family would spend the next 18 years in the Air Force, which included eight years stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii. He retired to the DFW area, to operate the Facilities department at Xerox Corporation. Dean was a great motivator, always smiling. He would enter the building each morning with a spring in his step, declaring “It’s great to be alive and working at Xerox,” setting the pace for the day.

Dean was a great sports fan. He coached his son’s baseball teams. He also officiated some college and high school basketball games and umpired many Little League baseball games. He enjoyed watching Texas Rangers baseball and Dallas Cowboys football.

Dean was a good golfer “shooting his age” two times and getting a hole-in-one. He could be seen most any evening practicing putting on the living room floor while watching TV.

In Lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Alzheimer's Association at http://act.alz.org .