Eva Louise Smith's Obituary
Smith, Eva L., born July 29, 1930, Plano, Texas, to Clarence and Inez Landers, both of whom preceded her in death. A member of Prestonwood Baptist Church and steadfast in her Christian faith, she passed away May 22, 2015. While her health declined steadily over the last seven years, she continued to maintain a great attitude, her positive personal traits, and her commitment to God, Jesus and the Christian way. Eva’s greatest source of joy and fulfillment always came through her devotion to and support of family and friends. A major part of this was her nurturing of three children, eight grandchildren, and many great grandchildren. She was a resident of the Dallas area for most of her life, although she also lived at various times in San Diego and Los Angeles, CA, Jackson, MS, and Bedford, College Station, Houston, and San Marcos, TX, cultivating a host of devoted friends in each community. A graduate of Sunset High School, she provided in her later years extensive time and energy in support of the Sunset Foundation, Inc., a foundation with the exclusive purpose of providing college scholarships to Sunset graduates. She was “old-fashioned” in her kindness, gentleness, and modesty and was on the “cutting edge” of every aspect of “golden rule” type personal service. A “people person” in every sense of the phrase, warm, friendly, and courteous to everyone, she continually displayed a remarkable desire and ability to give of herself. This, combined with many other wonderful talents and qualities, made her the consummate family person. Throughout her life, her positive traits were manifested in her interactions with family and all those who were fortunate enough to know her. During a long professional career, she served admirably in various capacities at such companies as Chance Vought Aircraft, Inc., Texas Instruments, Inc., and The Donachie Company. In the latter capacity, she also served in an administrative position with the Donachie Foundation. After the death of Mr. Robert Donachie, the Donachie family demonstrated great confidence in her, asking her to handle an even larger part of the Foundation activities. She served long and well until she finally retired due to the onset of declining health. Even as she served professionally in a variety of assignments, she found time to be of great support to Lee, her mate of 56 plus years, as he rose through academic positions to become a university president. This seventeen-year support of him and very valuable learning experience began as she successfully interacted with students, faculty, staff, and spouses at The University of Texas at Arlington, the University of Houston, and the University of Texas at Dallas. By the time Lee became President and she became the First Lady at Southwest Texas State University, now Texas State University, such name reserved during their tenure at Southwest Texas, she had become a seasoned veteran at such interactions. So, it is not surprising that she became an instant success, a success that continued over a nearly eight-year period as she managed every aspect of the University President’s home; served as chairperson of the university Ladies Club; filled in for the President at speaking engagements when last minute changes in his travel and work requirements made such necessary; served as hostess for each annual University Christmas celebration as well as many other social events; and, in general, admirably fulfilled all the other First Lady routine and demand activities. As if this did not keep her sufficiently busy, she also served in many capacities as a university ambassador to the local San Marcos community in such roles as participating in fashion shows; welcoming community members to the President’s home for various engagements and entertainments; serving weekly as a hostess and cook at the Cottage Kitchen, where money was raised for San Marcos charitable causes; and serving virtually on-call for other community and charitable functions. However, while the work she accomplished in both the university and city communities might seem overwhelming to many, her greatest endearment to both communities came through the manner in which she conducted her interactions. She literally charmed other people with her modesty, good humor, friendliness, good natured personality, and consistently equal treatment of all. Along the way, she was perfectly at ease as hostess to, for example, governors, lieutenant governors, senators, regents, chancellors, university presidents, consultants, astronauts, movie and country and western stars making appearances on campus, an ambassador, Nobel Prize winner and, when present, each of their spouses. All this service occurred as she wonderfully fulfilled all family obligations to her teen age daughter, to Lee, and to other family members, often flying to the aid of grandchildren when they needed her for such activities as birthday celebrations, graduations, illnesses, surgeries etc. A single event demonstrates vividly how those from all walks of life admired and appreciated her. After serving for almost eight years as First Lady of the University, she received a unanimous standing ovation when acknowledged at an assembly of thousands of faculty and staff members on the day that Lee announced his retirement as President and her retirement as First Lady from the University, as the two of them made plans to depart the University and San Marcos in order to move on to other challenges. One of the hallmark accomplishments during their University service was the acquisition of the adjoining San Marcos Baptist Academy Property, which increased the size of the Campus by 46%, adding 82 acres and 18 buildings. On July 19, 2014, Texas State University (formerly SWT) honored Eva and Lee for their many University contributions through the naming of the former Academy Property, subsequently called the West Campus, as the “Lee H. and Eva L. Smith West Campus”. Eva will be dearly missed, leaving behind a gigantic void in the lives of family and friends, one made bearable only by her legacy of unconditional love and loyalty to them and by their knowledge that she is now in Heaven where she will endure no more pain and suffering. In addition to Lee, she is survived and loved dearly by son, Don Adkins, son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Donna Adkins; daughter and son-in-law Diette and Tom Barnett; grandchildren, Ashley Adkins, Donny and Stacey Adkins, Matt Adkins, Mackenzie Barnett, Jenifer and James Patterson, Meagan & Charlie Crider, Cheryl Parten, and Dana and Greg Whyte; many great grandchildren; brother and sister-in-law, Win and Judy Landers, and numerous other Landers relatives. Arrangements are as follows: All services will be conducted at Restland Funeral Home and Memorial Park, North Greenville Avenue, Dallas, Texas, including an Open-casket Visitation, 6pm to 8pm, Friday, May 29; a Family Graveside Service at 3:30pm, Saturday, May 30; and a Memorial Service in the Memorial Chapel at 2:30pm, Saturday, June 6. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75243. It was her wish that, in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the Sunset Foundation, Inc., 102 South Plymouth Road, Dallas, Texas 75211, or the SPCA of Texas, 362 S. Industrial Blvd, Dallas, TX 75266.
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