| Lewis Clay Smith, 61, of Parkersburg, formerly of Grantsville, West Virginia, went to be with his Lord on November 23, 2008. He died at his home with Lou Grimm at his side, his special friend and caregiver of several years; he died of a rare brain tumor.
He was born November 28, 1946, in Grantsville, W.Va., at the family home, the second son of the late Herbert C. Smith Sr. and the late Edith Virginia Stump Smith who both died this year. He was a graduate of Calhoun County High School in 1964.
Lewis was an auto mechanic, a trade he started at a very young age under his father's guidance and worked in his father's business, Smith's Auto Parts, in Grantsville. He retired from Bosley's and was an avid car buff and NASCAR fan. He loved sprint racing and drag racing. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Grantsville from an early age.
Surviving are his son, Robert Lewis Smith and wife, Sara Jane Hardway Smith, and their six children, Robert II, Bradley, Clarence, Elisabeth, Phebe and Abigail of Canada; his daughter, Virginia Lynn Smith Rhodes and husband, Kenneth W. Rhodes, of Washington, W.Va., and their four children, Cynthia and Brandy Woodberry and Sara and Janie Rhodes; and his longtime friend and caregiver, Lou Ella Schoolcraft Grimm of Belpre and her daughter, Michelle Morrell and husband Herb Morrell, granddaughters Felisha and Alisha and her great-grandsons, Nickie, Brady and Lana Laughlin of Grantsville, W.Va.
Stepchildren and grandchildren surviving are Randy Hendrickson, Lisa Hendrickson Wells, Brelen Leleux and Robert Hendrickson, Michael E. Harpold and Scott Alan Harpold; and his daughter, Amy Riel Janes and husband, Nathan Janes, of Parkersburg.
He loved all his children and grandchildren dearly and the children he helped raise. He leaves his Labrador, Tigger, whom he loved very much.
He has six brothers and sisters and their spouses, Herbert C. (Chuck) Smith Jr. and Barbara, Carol Ann Smith Lewis and Tom, Judy Smith Swisher and Charlie, Nell Jean Smith Gainer Hasley Beckett and Johnnie, Allen Dewayne Smith and Debra, and Daniel Keith Smith and his friend Teresa Fitzwater Robinson. He also leaves several cousins, uncles, aunts, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert C. Smith Sr., and Edith Virginia Stump Smith; grandparents, Warder E. and Ethel Poling Stump Sr. and Clarence and Nell Holpp Smith; and brother-in-law, Robert E. Hasley Sr.
The cremation service will be by Leavitt's Funeral Home according to his wishes. His brother Chuck Smith will scatter his ashes over the junkyard of the family business, where he was raised and worked as a youngster. There will be no calling hours or services at the funeral home as his request. There will be a gathering from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday at his daughter's home, 251 Dupont Circle, Washington, W.Va. For information call (304) 482-3044.
The family prefers all memorial donations be made to the Parkersburg Humane Society in his honor, as he loved all animals, or to the Calhoun County Park which his father helped to build.
He expresses thanks to all who cared and helped him through this long and debilitating illness, especially Dr. Kim Stookes and Lou Grimm. We hope he rests in peace with a new body, his Lord and loved ones waiting on him.
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