Ralph Smith

Ralph Smith, 76, of Dothan passed away on Thursday, August 18, 2011 following a courageous battle with lymphoma at a local hospital.

rnFuneral services will be held 3 pm Sunday, August 21, 2011 at Dothan First Church of the Nazarene with Rev. Scott Sessions officiating. The family will receive friends from 4-7 pm Saturday at the funeral home. Flowers are being accepted or memorial donations may be made to the First Church of the Nazarene Building Fund, 1081 Honeysuckle Rd., Dothan, AL, 36305, Dothan Botanical Gardens, 5130 Headland Ave., Dothan, AL, 36303, Wiregrass United Way, 304 N. Foster St., Dothan, AL, 36303, or to your favorite charity. rnMr. Smith was born September 8, 1934 in Henry County, Alabama, to the late Alter and Beatrice Smith. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army after which he was employed with Economy Supply as a warehouseman and a sales representative. Later, he was employed with Adams Supply as a sales representative and in time became a stockholder and director. In 1974, Mr. Smith and William Lewis of Moultrie, GA founded Lewis-Smith Supply Corporation with 3 full-time employees and 2 part-time employees. In 1983, the Smith family became the sole owner of the company which today has grown to be the largest independently owned plumbing and heating-cooling distributorship in Alabama with 5 branches and 74 employees. rnRalph Smith’s civic involvement began in the early 1970’s when he was elected to the Dixie Youth Baseball board of directors, where he served for 10 years and still sponsors teams throughout the city and county. He has sponsored over 400 teams during his tenure with the league. He was inducted to the Wiregrass Softball Hall of Fame for years of devotion and sponsorship, served as the Wiregrass Rehabilitation Center Board for 6 years where he served as chairman, was on the Boys Club Board of Directors for several years, was on the Southeast Alabama Medical Center Board for 6 years and was chairman for 2 of those years, served on the Salvation Army Board, was active with the Wiregrass United Way where he served as past drive chairman and on the Board of Directors, served on the Dothan Planning Commission, was a member of the Dothan Rotary Club where he served as past president and was a recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow Award, was inducted to the Home Builders of Dothan Hall of Fame, and was on the founding board of Wiregrass Hospice of Dothan. Ralph was on the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors where he received the Spirit of Service Award, was a former Dothan City Commissioner, on the founding Board of Directors for the Dothan Area Botanical Gardens, on the SouthTrust Bank Board of Directors, the Dothan Country Club Board of Governors, received the 2001 Golden Deeds Award presented by the Exchange Club, received the 2003 Humanitarian Award from the Arthritis Foundation, founding board member of SAMC Foundation, and was on the Alabama State Easter Seal Board. rnRalph was a long time member of the Dothan First Church of the Nazarene where he was very active serving as Sunday School Superintendant for 8 years, Trustee of the Church Board for 35 years, co-chairman for 2 building projects, was on the Alabama South District Advisory Board for 17 years, and was on the Trevecca Nazarene University Board of Trustees for 3 years. In his spare time Ralph enjoyed golf and fishing, and especially spending time with his family. rnRalph was preceded in death by his parents, 3 brothers, Charlie Smith, Oscar Smith, and Roy Smith, and his mother-in-law Tallie C. Riley. rnSurvivors include his wife of 56 years Carolyn Riley Smith; his children, Mark Smith and his wife Dena, Michelle Benton and her husband Tim; grandchildren, Ryan Benton, Corey Smith, Brenton Smith, Chase Smith, Ashley Benton, and Emma Grace Benton; a brother Derrill Smith; sisters, Mary Edmondson and her husband Steve and Jean Anderson; several in-laws and nieces and nephews also survive. rnServing as pallbearers will be Jim Metcalf, Larry Hardy, Tom Watson, John Sharp, Joe Kouns, and Dr. John Dunn. Honorary pallbearers will be the employees of Lewis Smith Supply Corp. rnThe family would like to extend a special thank you to Ralph’s caregiver Gloria Woodham and Dr. John Dunn and his entire staff. Burial Date: January 1, 1970