Raphael Worth Smith

Services: A private service will be held later this spring in Fairmount Cemetery (family cemetery) in Pennsylvania. Memorials: Memorials may be made to Clyde W. Cosper Texas State Veterans Home (www.glo.texas.gov/vb/form), Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org/join_the_cause_donate.asp) or Fairmount Cemetery, 507 East Valley Rd., Smethport, PA 16749. Biography: Raphael Worth Smith, 82, of Dallas, Texas, died at Clyde W. Cosper Texas State Veterans Home on Wednesday, January 20th, 2016. He was born on November 16th, 1933 in Greenville, Ohio while his parents were on a business trip. The eldest son of Worth and Lena Smith, Raphael grew up in Smethport, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Smethport High School in 1952. He then went on to serve in the Strategic Air Command of the United States Air Force and obtained the rank of First Lieutenant. He received the Air Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster for his service. After the service, Raphael went on to graduate from Penn State University with a BA in Philosophy. Raphael married Eva Hall Kenney on August 26th, 1961 in Olean, New York. They later divorced yet remained close friends. Raphael worked with his father at Worth W. Smith Company before moving to Dallas, Texas in 1963. He established the R. W. Smith Company, a precision tool grinding business in Dallas in 1972. During his career, Raphael was a respected member of the manufacturing community as well as the owner of two patents. Although officially retired, he remained active in the business after passing it on to Barron, his eldest son, who now owns and manages the business. Raphael was a founding member of the Elks Lodge 2552. He was also active in the North Texas Chapter of the National Tooling and Machining Association holding various leadership positions in both. Raphael enjoyed spending time with his family, hunting, playing golf, reading and traveling. Raphael is survived by his son Barron and his wife Sara of Fort Worth, TX; son Dehn and his wife Cynthia, grandchildren Merritt and Walker of Richardson, TX; sister Mary Lee and husband Wayne Pearson of Smethport, PA; brother, Dale and wife Cynthia of Derrick City, PA; brother Kent and wife Mimi of Smethport, PA, as well as several nieces and nephews.