Obituary of Wilbert Smith

Wilbert Matthew Smith was born October 17, 1931, in Lexington County. He was the second child of ten born to the late Albert & Essie Mae Smith. He was married to the love of his life, the late Dorothea Read Smith, for 25 years.

Mr. Smith passed peacefully at home into God’s heavenly care on July 21, 2023, surrounded by his family. He is survived by two step-daughters, Dawn Ramer and Robin McQuinn; grandchildren, Angie (Jeff) Kruger, Ashley (Christopher) Dooley, Barbara (Daniel) Bouknight, and Stanley (Kayla) Martin; great-grandchildren Brandon Kruger, Ian Kruger, Dylan Fleming, Connor Reid Dooley, Jacob Matthew Dooley, Izzie Bouknight, L.J. Martin, Ava Martin, and Luna Martin ... all of whom he loved and cared for. He is also survived by two loving sisters, Ola Mae Steele and Faye Cook who was his primary caregiver; sisters-in-law Doris Smith, Carol Smith, Ellen Smith and Donna Smith; as well as a number of nieces, nephews and cousins. Special thanks to Agape Hospice, SC House Calls and Kim Rivers for your care and support.

Mr. Smith loved God, his family and his friends. He was a lifelong member of St. Matthews Church of Lexington SC. Mr. Smith proudly served our country in the SC National Guard 1950-53, United States Marine Corp 1953-56, United States Marine Corp Reserve 1956- 1972, retiring in 1991 with the rank of Gunnery Sergeant. Before and after his military service, he worked for, and retired from, the Royal Typewriter Company. Mr. Smith enjoyed gospel and country music, fishing, travel and baseball.

Along with his parents and wife, Mr. Smith was predeceased by two sisters, Lola Mae Smith and Mary Smith Wingard, five brothers, James, Julius, Thomas, Gene and Johnny, sister-in-law, Sybil Smith and brothers-in-law Edward Steele, Arthur Wingard, and R C Cook.

Visitation will be held Thursday, July 27, 2023, from 6 – 8 PM, at Thompson Funeral Home in Lexington SC. The funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Friday, July 28, 2023 at 11 o’clock AM, with burial in the Congaree Baptist Church Cemetery, 101 Pine Ridge Drive, West Columbia SC. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105, or a memorial of your choice.