Ralph Smith

Funeral services for Mr. James Ralph Smith, age 87 of Cookeville will be held Friday February 20 at 11 a.m. in the Cookeville Chapel of Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Crest Lawn Cemetery. Rev. Mike Head and Rev. Charles Hutchinson will officiate. Mr. Smith's family will receive friends Thursday from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. until service time at the funeral home. Mr. Smith died suddenly Sunday morning February 15, 2015 at his home. Ralph was born January 21, 1928 in Baxter, Tennessee to the late Arthur Hubert and Thelma Iva Nabors Smith. Ralph was a long-time member and Deacon at Cookeville First Baptist where he taught the Junior Boys Sunday School Class. He was a U. S. Air Force Veteran serving as an aircraft radio communication technician. Ralph worked at Tennessee Tech University for 18 years in the Engineering Laboratory and helped install the first computer that came to Tech. He founded Smith Electric in Cookeville in 1975 remained active until his death. Ralph was a modest, humble man who was respected by many people that knew him. He was a Godly man with great faith, and was devoted to his church. He was a devoted husband and father and took great joy in his grandchildren and great grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Essie Dee Smith (who died October 6, 2012); and a brother, Tommy Smith. Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Phillip and Sherry Smith of Cookeville; two daughters and sons-in-law, Sarah and Bill Doyle of Chattanooga and Beverly and Charles Nivens of Cookeville; Seven grandchildren, Mollie (Mike) Tuch, Ashley (Lee) Chadwell. Josh (Caris) Williams, Jon Williams, Heather (Chris) Naaktgeboren, Brandon (Amber) Burgess, and Brad (Anna) Doyle; eight great grandchildren; and his brother and sister-in-law, Hubert and Pam Smith of South Carolina. Pallbearers will be Brandon Burgess, Chris Naaktgeboren, Brad Doyle, Chuck Nivens, Bill Doyle and Lee Chadwell. Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, 18 S. Walnut, Cookeville, TN 38501.