Obituary of Oscar Dowling Smith

Mr. Oscar Dowling Smith, age 88, of Clio, died Sunday, July 10, 2011, at his home following an extended illness. Funeral services will be 11:00 A. M. Wednesday, July 13, 2011, from Elamville Assembly of God Church with The Reverend Kenneth Earles and The Reverend William B. Easterling officiating. Interment will follow with Military Honors in Elam Baptist Cemetery, Holman Funeral Home of Ozark directing. His body will be placed in the church one hour prior to service time Wednesday. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5:00 P. M. until 7:00 P. M. Tuesday evening. Mr. Smith was born October 11, 1922 in Barbour County to the late Carlie Oscar Smith and Eva Louise Dansby Smith. He graduated from Barbour County High School in 1940. Mr. Smith served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II with the 20th Bomb Command of the 20th Air Force in the China, Burma, and India Theater. He then served in the Tinian Islands in the Mariannas where operations were set up to bomb Japan. Following his military service, Mr. Smith attended Troy State Teachers College graduating in 1950. He worked at Fort Rucker as an Aviation Education Specialist with Civil Service, retiring in 1974. He was a member of Elamville Assembly of God Church, the Greater Clio Ruritan Club and served on the Board of Directors of SARCOA. In addition to his parents, Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his brother, Carlie Oscar Smith, Jr. Survivors include his wife, Lena Belle Stafford Smith of Clio; two sons and daughters-in-law, Harold K. and Jeanette Smith of Clio and Delmar E. and Edith Smith of Troy; one sister and brother-in-law, Elinor and Kenneth Chisholm of Dothan; three grandchildren, Kendall V. and Jamie Smith, Parker Dowling Smith, and Carly P. Smith; special care-givers, Mary Barr and Angie McClendon. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to the charity of your choice. Service Information