John Herbert Smith M.D.

1938 - 2022

John Herbert Smith, M.D.
December 17, 1938 - June 1, 2022
Dr. John Herbert "Pops" Smith, age 83, passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, June 1, 2022.

John is survived by his first wife and best friend, Maryann Nolan Smith; his children and grandchildren, Sidney & Lucy, Isabelle, and Sid Smith, Jr.; Paul & Bethany, Braden, Avery, and Skylar Smith; Tim & Stasie Smith and Jack, Brock, and Jane Culwell; Zac & Cassandra, Zachary, Jr., Madlyn, SaraGrace, and Sadie Smith. He is preceded in death by his sister Sharon, his brother James, and his second wife Judy Lowry Smith.

John was born on December 17, 1938, in Marion, Ohio, to Viola Schupp Smith and Herbert James Smith. He graduated from Defiance High School in Defiance, Ohio, in 1956, where he met Maryann, his future wife and mother of their children. He then graduated from The Ohio State University in three years with a degree in zoology. He went directly to The Ohio State University Medical School graduating in 1963. He and Maryann moved to Houston, Texas. There he completed an internship at Baylor College of Medicine before moving to Norfolk, Virginia, where he entered the United States Navy and for two years served aboard the USS Muliphen AKA-61 as the ship's physician. He was honorably discharged as a Lieutenant Commander.

In 1968, John and Maryann returned to Houston where he completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. He was selected as the Chief Resident and completed a fellowship in Pulmonary Medicine. He also served as an instructor at Baylor College of Medicine.

For fifty years, he cared for patients in Houston, first at Rosewood Medical Center for 30 years and then at West Houston Medical Center, where he was later joined by his son, Zac Smith, M.D. They practiced together for almost 20 years. As one friend put it, "I heard Heaven just received one helluva doctor." John's commitment to his patients was unrivaled. He didn't just treat patients; he formed a close personal relationship with them. He was trusted and loved by his patients.

While Pops was devoted to his patients, he always made time for his family.
He was an amazing husband, father, and grandfather. He often served as the team doctor for his sons' football teams and took great pleasure in watching them and his grandchildren compete athletically. Pops was very proud of all of his children and grandchildren. He hosted the Smith Family Beach Week for 23 years. He cherished that annual gathering and thoroughly enjoyed playing games with the kids. Pops regularly treated his children and grandchildren to Friday night dinners, connecting with each grandchild individually.

He sent all his sons to Strake Jesuit College Preparatory and has made annual donations to Strake Jesuit since 1976 without fail. In April 2021, he converted to the Catholic faith.

A visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, at Earthman Bellaire Funeral Home. A memorial service for John Herbert Smith, M.D., is scheduled at St. Cecilia Catholic Church at 10:30 a.m. on June 9, 2022. Following a brief reception in the PFC, a graveside burial ceremony will take place at the Houston National Cemetery on Veterans Memorial Drive. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 1776 Yorktown Street #560, Houston, TX 77056.