Thomas Smith

Thomas “Alan” Smith, of Hot Springs, found eternal rest on Good Friday, April 2, 2021, in hospice surrounded by his wife and children. Services celebrating his life will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 6, at CaruthHale Funeral Home located at 155 Section Line Rd. in Hot Springs.

Alan was born August 30, 1936, in Lawson, Ark., to Thomas Roland Smith and Ruth Evelyn (Gibson) Smith. He graduated from Parker’s Chapel High School in 1954, and attended Southern State University. On June 10, 1957, he married the former Martha Rose Jinks of El Dorado, Ark. Alan started his career as a pipe fitter. He then worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone for 18 years rising from installation technician to supervisor. In 1975 he started a restaurant career opening Chicken Country restaurants in Hot Springs, Malvern, Benton, Fort Smith and Longview, Texas. In December 1986, Alan and Martha opened Abe’s Ole Feedhouse in Lawson, Ark., which ultimately grew to 10 more restaurants of the same name.

Alan lived a life to good purpose and resiliency. He was a committed husband, father, brother and relative exuding humor and sincerity to all who knew him. Following the death of his beloved Martha, Alan married Syble Herndon Smith of Hope, Ark., on August 31, 2003, with whom he shared love and adventure until his death. The pair were soul mates personifying partnership. They were members of Hot Springs Baptist Church.

Alan was an avid golfer; loved to read and write, and had a love for all things artistic.

Alan is survived by a daughter and three sons and spouses, Glynda Jane (Smith) Smith and Martin Smith, of Louisville, Colo., Robert Alan and Gina Smith, of Magnolia, Ark., Max Randall and Stevie Smith, of Richardson, Texas, and Ricky Jo and Cleotilde Flaquer, of Plantation, Fla.; his wife, Syble, of Hot Springs; sisters, Diane (Smith) Bubbus, of Darndenelle, Ark., and Beverly (Smith) Patterson, of Fort Smith; three stepchildren, Rufus Herndon, of Fayetteville, Jolyn (Herndon) Stafford, of Little Rock, Jennifer (Herndon) Kronenberger, of Little Rock. He had 10 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; 10 stepgrandchildren; and 7 stepgreat-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Martha; sister, Francis (Smith) Brack, of Houston, Texas, William Smith, of El Dorado, and Steven Smith, of Mexico.