Roy Gene Smith

Roy Gene Smith was born August 20, 1927 in the Sinclair Oil Field between Covington and Garber, Oklahoma, in the "oil patch," he liked to say. Roy was the youngest of 5 living siblings born to Ray Close and Minnie Bell Strain Smith. Roy grew up in the area, attended the Sinclair Grade School, and graduated from Garber High School in 1945. He enlisted in the United States Army and was assigned to the 9206 TSU TC Company K, First Training Regiment and served in the military police until his discharge on April 29th, 1947. After his discharge from the Army, Roy began working for Marquise Studios in Enid, where he met the love of his life, Wildena Darlene Biby while she was employed with Marquise Studios as a film developer. He became a photographer with the studio, traveling to many schools in Oklahoma, taking senior class pictures. Roy and Darlene married on August 8th, 1948 in Enid, where they made their home. Roy soon was employed with O.G.& E. in October of 1948 and was transferred to the Oklahoma City office in 1956, moving his family to Oklahoma City. He stayed with O.G.& E. for 39 years., retiring as an accountant in 1987. O.G.& E. recognized Roy for his outstanding service to their company. Roy was always a quiet man, expressing himself as an artist, preferring to work with his hands. His first of several mediums was wood. He built grandfather and grandmother clocks, made coffee tables, magazine racks, and other beautiful items. He also helped his sons and daughters-in-law fix anything! Once, Roy helped put a swing set together for one of his grandchildren"™s birthdays. The swing set took over 7 hours and 3 people working on it to assemble but when it was finished, every nut and bolt was in the right place! In the 1970"™s, he turned his attention to the art of stained glass, where his workmanship and attention to the least detail captured his true artistic nature. After taking classes in the stained glass medium, he made lamp shades, some with over 1,500 pieces, all with the painstaking and loving care of a father tending his children. He made glass panels commemorating the USA Bi-Centennial. His love of birds and flowers is shown in many panels. One of his greatest gifts was the ability to share his work, delighting others in his family by giving them some of his stained glass art. He and Darlene were world travelers, saving their money and booking trips to Europe, taking cruises to the islands in the Caribbean, and a South American cruise. They loved going to New Orleans, enjoying the music of Bourbon Street, and taking junkets to Tunica where they played the penny slots with the best of them! They met and made friends from all over the world on their junkets and cruises, even visiting friends in London. Roy and Darlene invited their friends from London to Oklahoma City, taking them for a tour to see the sights. The Londoners mistook baled hay for buffalo! Roy is survived by his bride of 60 years, Wildena Darlene whom he loved dearly; his two sons - retired Judge Gregg Smith and wife Heather of Holdenville and their three children, Hayley Maravich, Zachary Smith, and Starr Borden; Rick Smith and Erika Bedish and her son Nikolas of Tacoma, Washington, and Rick"™s two daughters, Jessica Bruce and Kimberly Smith; three great grandchildren; a sister Iva Sallee in Tulsa. Roy leaves behind many wonderful friends and nieces and nephews too numerous to list. His quiet strength, generosity and caring spirit will be greatly missed. Services 2:00 P.M. Sunday, December 28th at Candlewood Chapel located at 315 S. Sooner Road in Midwest City. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Roy Gene Smith please visit our Sympathy Store.