Alson H. Smith Jr.

The Honorable Alson H. Smith, Jr.

Alson “Al” Howard Smith, Jr., of Winchester Virginia, died Sunday, March 23, 2008 in Winchester, VA.

Mr. Smith was born in 1928 in Frederick County, Virginia the son of the late Alson H. and Beulah Belle Smith, Sr. Mr. Smith was a franchise holder for Tastee-Freeze for Virginia, West Virginia, and portions of Pennsylvania. He served in the Virginia House of Delegates representing this area for twenty years. He was named Outstanding Virginian and received the Shenandoah Valley Bowl award for tourism two times.

Mr. Smith was Past President of The Winchester Jaycees and served as president of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival twice. He was a member of the Board of Trustees and a Life Member of Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church. He was past Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Shenandoah University where he was awarded a Honorary Doctorate of Humanities. He was a past member of the Winchester Medical Center Board of Directors; a Past Chairman and Board Member of the Durell Foundation, and a past Board Member of First Bank.

He was also a past Board Member of Virginia Environmental Endowment. He was a member of Isaac Walton League; a past board member for SPCA of Winchester and Frederick County. He was a member of the American Legion; a member of Winchester Elks Lodge, BPOE #867 and Winchester Moose Lodge #1283. He served in the United States Army as a Corporal in the 354th Military Police Company in Newfoundland during the Korean conflict.

He was a graduate of Handley High School, Class of 1947.

He married Margarette Cage Matthews on February 14, 1953 in South Hill, Virginia.

Surviving with his wife of Winchester, is one son, Alson H. “Skip” Smith, III, a sister, Mary Ann Suddith of Luray, and two grandchildren. A son, David Matthew Smith is deceased.

A funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 am on Tuesday at Braddock Street United Methodist Church with Rev. Steve Melester and Rev. Jim Johnson officiating. Interment will be private.

Pallbearers will be Eugene Dearing, Dr. Robert Kendall, Dr. James Davis, The Honorable Charles Robb, The Honorable Jerry Baliles, The Honorable John O. Marsh, Jr., Leonard Ellis, and Charles Duvall.

Honorary pallbearers will be The Honorable H. Russell Potts, Jr., The Honorable Harry F. Byrd, Jr., The Honorable John Warner, The Honorable Clinton Miller, The Honorable Mark Warner, Sgt. Steve Hawkins, Leo Snarr, Robert Edwards, Bill Thomas, John Hardesty, and Lenny Millholland.

The family will receive friends at Omps Funeral Home – Amherst Chapel on Monday evening from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

The family will receive friends at a reception following the service at the home of their cousins, the Dick Family at “Selma”, 514 Amherst Street, Winchester, Virginia.

The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the David Matthew Smith Scholarship Fund, c/o Shenandoah University, 1460 University Drive, Winchester, VA 22601, or to the David Matthew Smith Scholarship Fund, c/o Lord Fairfax Community College, 173 Skirmisher Lane, Middletown, VA 22645.