James Rudolph Smith

James Rudolph Smith, born June 30, 1946, in Leewood, WV, passed peacefully February 6, 2026. He was known as Rudy to family and friends from West Virginia, Smitty to his Army buddies and James to the friends he met in Hurst, Texas.

Rudy graduated in June 1964 from East Bank Senior High School in East Bank, WV. By the end of June, he had enlisted in the US Army. He said he was standing in line for the Air Force, but the line was too long. He volunteered for the Army during the start of the Vietnam War because he knew he was not going to work in the coal mines and die young like his dad. He completed basic training in Fort Knox, KY and AIT in Fort Dix, New Jersey.

Smitty was assigned to positions in Korea two times, Germany two times and various places in the States. His last assignment and where he retired as a Sergeant First Class after 20 years of service, was at Fort Hood, TX in 1983. Smitty was awarded numerous medals in recognition of his distinguished service in the Army. He received the Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Services Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Drill Sergeant Badge and several other Awards, Medals, and Ribbons. After retiring from the Army, he worked for Orkin Pest Control, TECOM on Fort Hood and drove 18 wheelers across the country before he stopped working in 2002.

Smitty was a lifetime member of General Benjamin O. Davis VFW Post 9191 in Killeen, Texas. He always said, “he had plenty of liquor and plenty of fun at the VFW.” Smitty loved music and liked to dance.

James worked part time as a door greeter in North Richland Hills, TX from 2022-2024. He invited everybody to “give Wal-Mart all of their money.” He loved flirting with the women at First Convenience Bank inside of Wal-Mart and the women who came to shop at Wal-Mart.

Smitty was pre-deceased by his parents, Isaiah M and Eliza Wiseman Smith. He is survived by his brother, Roger Smith of West Virginia; his daughter and caretaker, Toni Smith, of Hurst, Texas; his daughter, Kimberly Coleman of Florida; his son, James R Smith, II of Germany; his son, Cornell Smith of Virginia; and his son, Michael Morris of West Virginia. He leaves several grandchildren, special cousins, Isaiah Coleman, Florine “Sis” Williams and a host of other cousins and friends. He also leaves his longtime friends that he grew up with in West Virginia and spoke to daily- Donald Delmore, Theodore Daniels, Floyd Kates, Kenny Weems, and Richard Thomas. He had many friends in Killeen that he spoke to often: Mary Mackey, Sherry Wheeler, Cecilia Hawthorne, Luther Vines, Anthony Eckwood, and others. Lastly, he leaves Hazel Thomas and his Bingo Crew in Haltom City along with Ray McFadden.

Smitty loved to gamble and play bingo. His motto was “he wasn’t trying to leave anything for anybody to fight over.” He never met a stranger and always had a joke or a “good lie” to tell. He was a fan of all sports, but especially the Dallas Cowboys. May he finally rest in peace.

Special thanks to his caregivers: Denise Reason, Brooklynn Gatta, Emmanuel Blackmon, and Ty Bernard. Special thanks to Three Oaks Hospice of Fort Worth.