Dubert Smith

Dubert W. Smith, 95, of , Carlsbad, New Mexico, passed away Thursday, April 9, 2015 at Lakeview Christian Home. Visitation will be 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM, Monday, April 13, 2015 at Denton-Wood Funeral Home. Funeral services are scheduled for Tuesday, April 14, 2015, 2:00 PM, at Fox and Lake Church of Christ with Philip Lairson officiating. Interment will follow in Carlsbad Cemetery, Carlsbad, New Mexico. Carlsbad Veterans Honor Guard will provide military honors. Denton-Wood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Dubert Ward Smith was born November 29, 1919 in Stephenville, Texas, the son of Alonzo Leonard Smith and Emma Pearl (Ward) Smith. In 1927, the family came to New Mexico, moving to Fierro near Silver City then to Duncan, Arizona in 1931. They moved back to New Mexico in 1933 to Cloudcroft, then to Loving in 1935 and to the PCA mine site on January 1, 1936. Dubert married Ola Irene Beach on March 16, 1941. The couple honeymooned in Houston while Dubert went to a welding school. For a while they lived in a rented house on the Old Cavern Highway. Dubert bought land at 217 E. Rose and built a small house there and kept adding on to it as the family grew to 5 children by 1955. When Duberta was 10 days old (9/4/1944), he was called up for service in the Pacific Theatre of World War II. Basic training was in California and the family spent Christmas in California with him. He was shipped out to Okinawa where he was wounded by a Japanese knee mortar. He was honorably discharged in October 1945 and received the Purple Heart. Dubert and his father, Alonzo started Smith and Son Welding Shop on South Canyon St. on June 1, 1946, just shy of 69 years ago. Dubert liked to go deer hunting with the family and drove the boat while the kids water skied on Lake Carlsbad. He was a member of the Fox and Lake Church of Christ and served many years as a deacon there. Dubert was preceded in death by his mother, Emma Smith; his father, Alonzo Smith and two sisters: Geraldine and Treva Mozelle. He is survived by his wife of 74 years, Irene Smith; children: Dwayne Smith and wife, Melody, Dwight Smith, Tom Smith and wife, Terri and Duberta Croley, all of Carlsbad and James Smith and wife, Lorna of Lubbock, Texas; 7 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Condolences may be expressed at dentonwood.com.