James Alexander Smith

James Alexander “Jim” Smith age 91, of Daleville went home to be with the Lord Monday November 9, 2020.

Jim was the son of the late Arthur B. and Tessie S. Smith. He was born on January 17, 1929 in Bakewell, Tennessee. Jim lived in Tennessee for much of this youth and later on in life moving to Fredericksburg, Virginia with his wife Mary. Jim and Mary retired to the Smith Mountain Lake area and have spent the last 5 years at The Glebe in Daleville.

Jim was a graduate of University of Tennessee in Chattanooga, TN. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering. As a young man he was in the US Army at Ft. Gordon, GA where he thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the Army band playing the French horn and driving the band bus. His main career was as an engineer at the Naval Weapons Laboratory at Dahlgren, VA. Jim was a very active part of the community wherever he was living as he was always the song leader at church, singing acapella with the Barbershop Singing group in SML and with the Harmeneers, Lions club in Moneta, and he was also most recently a member of Roanoke Church of Christ. He enjoyed tinkering and working on things, working on cars, traveling with his wife in their motor home, and spending time with his family.

In addition to his parents Jim is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 73 years Mary Lee Smith and 9 siblings. Jim is survived by son and daughter-in-law: Perry James “P.J.” (Alma) Smith of Midlothian, VA; daughter and son-in-law Donna Smith (Ronald A. “Chip”) Worley Jr. of Blacksburg, VA; grandchildren: Rebecca Worley Miller, Deborah Worley, Amy Worley Eads, Lauren Smith Johnson, and Hunter James Smith; 13 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service honoring Jim’s life at Rader Funeral Home, Daleville will be announced later. A private burial will be conducted at Virginia Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers please consider the Rescue Mission Ministries, PO Box 11525 Roanoke, Virginia 24022.

Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.rader-funeralhome.com.

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