Lita Louise Smith

Our mother, Lita Hildreth Smith, 91, passed away in Arlington, Texas on July 4, 2023.

Lita Louise was born on October 13, 1931, in Greenville, Texas, the second child and only daughter of Howard Elton Hildreth and Katherine Louise (Mitchell) Hildreth. She graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in 1950.

Our mother then headed off to Fort Worth, Texas to make her way in the world. She worked as a switchboard operator while living with big brother Howard and sister-in-law Lou. Growing up, she hadn’t the opportunity to interact with young children, so she very much loved her role as a doting aunt to toddler David as he “teached her” to tumble across the lawn.

Soon, two major events would transform her life. Mom had been baptized in the Methodist Church as a young teenager, but she always accounted her full spiritual conversion to her attendance at a Billy Graham revival in 1951. This began her lifelong undertaking to comprehend the love of God, the joy of Jesus, and the peace and fellowship of the Holy Spirit.

Although she would work at various jobs to help support her family, her true aspiration was always to be a mother. In 1952 she met and married Charles Weldon Smith. To this union were born four children: Robert Weldon, Cynthia Ann, Colin Andrew, and Larry Don. The joyous singing and whistling of our tender-hearted mother while she worked about the house are firmly etched in our memories. Once we were older, most years the family spent two weeks tent camping at Lake Texoma. Six people in a wall tent, and Mom’s best cooking. Although terrified of putting her head under water, such was her love of family that she bravely accompanied us on our 16 foot boat, fishing along with everyone but declining to water ski. In 2010, she said if she could go back anywhere in time, it would be to those blessed days at Eisenhower State Park.

In her last four decades, Mom’s mornings always began with Bible study at her kitchen table, her well-annotated study Bible and a growing library of reference books within reach, accompanied by a cup of coffee. One of her great honors was being asked to serve her Lord as a Bible Study Fellowship leader. Although she had attended Methodist and Baptist churches faithfully, one of her favorite sayings became “God creates love, mankind creates religions.”

Mother was preceded in death by Charles Weldon Smith (1988), her husband of 35 years, son Colin Smith (1991) and brother Howard Hildreth (2018).

Our mom is survived by numerous “sugars”. Children: Robert (Suzanne) Smith, Cynthia (Bruce) Bradley and Larry (Gayle) Smith. Grandchildren: Kevin (Brittany) Smith, Amy Smith, Debbie Smith, Leslie (Justin) McGregor, Travis (Patricia) Bradley, Kristen (Zach) Meyer, Kyle (Judith) Bradley, Shannon (Jeremy) Gonzalez, Lauren Smith, and 22 Great-Grandchildren. She is also survived by her much loved sister-in-law, Carol Smith, and seven nephews and nieces.

The family would like to thank the staff at Arbrook Plaza Nursing Home for the wonderful care and support they showed to our mother.

In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial contribution in Lita Smith’s honor to: Mission Arlington (click here to donate now) or The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (click here to donate now).