Tributes

Conway.....Joseph Samuel Smith, Sr. DVM, age 85, died Wednesday, November 21, 2007 at Conway Medical Center. Dr. Smith was born January, 12, 1922 in Charlotte, NC, son of the late Felix Merwin and Marquerite Drake Smith of Whiteville, NC. He graduated from Whiteville High School in 1939, and graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Veterinary Medicine in 1943. Dr. Smith practiced Veterinary Medicine in Tabor City, NC for 2 years before moving to Conway, SC. He established the first Veterinary Hospital in Horry County Conway Veterinary Hospital which he continued to run until 1985 at which time he retired. He was a member of the NC Association of Veterinarians, the SC Association of Veterinarians, American Association of Veterinarians and the Pee Dee Association of Veterinarians. Dr. Smith was a charter member of the Riverside Club, a boy scout leader and member of the Pee Dee Area Council of Boy Scouts.Dr. Smith was a charter member of Trinity United Methodist Church having been active in the church choir for several years. He was an avid fisherman and hunter which he enjoyed from an early age. In conjuction with the Horry Health Department he organized the first rabies control program for Horry County, and continued to hold rabies clinics throughout the county until his retirement reducing the number of rabies cases considerably. Dr. Smith did animal testing for US Department of Agriculture for several years. Most of all he was a loving husband, a wonderful father, grandfather and great grandfather and took such pride in and enjoyed all of his family so very much. Surviving are: his wife of 63 years, Eloise Todd Smith; two sons, Joseph Samuel Smith, Jr. and his wife Patsy of Conway and Michael Todd Smith and wife Marianne of Columbia; one daughter, Dr. Gayle Smith Blouin and husband Randy of Greenville; seven grandchildren, Amy Smith Burger, Joseph Samuel Smith, III, McLaurin Smith Saunders, Barrett McQueen Smith, Cameron Wilkes Smith, Hunter Christopher Blouin and Katherine Smith Blouin; six great-grandchildren, Britton Leigh Burger, Joseph Blane Burger, BrooksAnn Ella Burger, Swepson Harrison Saunders VII, Lochlin Wilkes Saunders and Victoria Jackson; and a brother, Dr. James Roderick Smith of Seattle, Washington. A funeral service will be held 2:00 PM Friday, November 23, 2007 at Trinity United Methodist Church with the Rev. Carl Hunsucker officiating. Burial will follow in Hillcrest Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1-2 PM Friday at Trinity United Methodist Church Palor. Memorials may be sent to Trinity United Methodist Church, 198 Long Avenue, Conway, SC 29526. Goldfinch Funeral Home, Conway Chapel is in charge of arrangements.