Ross Smith

December 11, 1917 - December 8, 2008

Ross Cleo, son of Eula (Chapman) and Barney Smith was born on December 11, 1917 at Bentley, Oklahoma. He passed away at the Alva Share Medical Center on the 8th of December at the age of 90 years, 11 months and 28 days. He graduated from Tushka High School with the Class if 1938, received his B.S. Degree from Southeastern State College at Durant and his Master Degree from O.S.U. at Stillwater. On June 17, 1942 he joined the United States Army Air Corp. On November 25, 1942 he was married to Norma Jean Lewis at Sioux Falls. South Dakota where he was stationed. He was discharged on January 11, 1946 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He started his teaching career and coaching basketball at Tushka High School. In 1948 he coached the winning High School Championship basketball team. In 1954 they came to Alva where he coached and taught Social Studies, and was Assistant Principal when he retired in 1980. Ross was inducted into the Oklahoma High School Coaches Hall of Fame in 1969. Mr. Smith was a member of the Alva First United Methodist Church and the Alva Golf and Country Club. He was preceded in death by his wife, Norma Jean on January 24,2006, his parents; two sisters, Esther Sartin and Joy E, Smith; two brothers, J.D. and Charles L.; two brothers-in-law, Carl W. Servis and Henry Sartin; and a nephew, Allen Sartin. Ross is survived by his sister, Jessie Servis of Atoka, Oklahoma; a nephew, Ronald W. Servis of Washington D.C. A brother and sister-in-law, Mary Margarete and C. Jack Harris of Oklahoma City; several great great nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends PDF Printable Version