JAMES EDWARD SMITH

1937-2022

James Edward Smith died in Kingwood, Texas on March 8 from cancer.

He was born on December 22, 1937, in Astoria, New York, to James M. Smith and Hazel B. Smith. He was educated in New York City public schools, at Brooklyn Technical High School and The City College of New York, where he earned a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering in 1960. He married his childhood sweetheart, Regina Ann Rochelle, in 1956, and they were married for 57 years until her death.

He joined the Gulf Oil Corporation upon graduation and spent the next 24 years with Gulf in various capacities in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Santa Fe Springs, California; Tokyo, Japan; Taipei, Taiwan; and Midland and Houston, Texas, until his retirement as an executive in 1984. He subsequently joined Castrol USA in New York City and Mexico City until his second retirement in 1996.

Jim was known for his quick wit and raucous sense of humor. He loved to travel with his wife and family all over the globe. These travels allowed him to play golf at every major course in the world. He was an accomplished fly fisherman, spending many summers happily casting in the San Miguel River in Telluride, Colorado.

Jim was preceded in death by his wife in 2013; his daughter, Maryann, in 1988; his brother, Gerald Smith, in 1999. He is survived by his son, James K. (Lesley), of Annapolis, Maryland; daughter Nancy Wood (Paul), of Cedar Park, Texas; grandsons Scott Wood (Katie), of El Paso, Texas and James R. Smith of Houston; granddaughters Katherine Smith, of Houston, and Margaret Smith, of Annapolis; and two greatgrandchildren, Owen Paul Wood and Abigail Smith. He is also survived by his good friend and companion, Anne Gilliam.

A memorial service will be held at Kingwood Funeral Home at 2:00 on March

17, 2022. St. Patrick’s Day. Please wear green!