L.D. Hubert Smith

L.D. Hubert Smith, 88, of Cincinnati, Ohio, passed away on June 17, 2023 surrounded by his sweetheart and wife of 65 ½ years, and their three children.

Hubert was born on December 27, 1934 to Anna Mae (Carson) Smith and Eugene Smith in Oneida, Tennessee. The second of four siblings, Hubert displayed at an early age his devout love of family, a strong work ethic, high integrity, and a competitive spirit that was balanced by his kind heart. After graduating from Oneida High School in 1953, he enlisted in the Navy and proudly served from 1954-1958 including a deployment to Cuba.

In April 1957, Hubert was on leave visiting his family where he met the love of his life, Alice. A long-distance courtship blossomed, and they eloped on December 19, 1957. He wrote to her every day and promised to give her a wonderful life. He kept his promise by working his way up from welder to become the Plant Manager of Vulcan Manufacturing until it closed in 1988. He next became a millwright at GE where he worked until his retirement in 1995.

He was a man of strong faith and fierce friendships. A brother in Christ to all serving as deacon at Westside Baptist Church and an elder mentor to all that knew him. He could fix anything, loved woodworking and was most at peace fishing. These skills helped him forge both decade-long friendships and instant friendships with anyone he met.

Hubert is preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Herbert Smith and sister, Annette Smith. He is survived by his wife, Alice (Yancy) Smith; brother Rutherford Smith, children Chrystal (Ken) Johnson, Susan (James) Cavanaugh and Hugh Craig Smith (Alisa Dadian); grandchildren Brody (Caitlin), Anna and Elise Johnson, Shannon and Megan Cavanaugh and Erin (Matt) Adkins; great-grandchildren Garrett, Kendall and Reagan Adkins and Henry Johnson as well as many nieces and nephews. He will be dearly missed by his community of friends that all considered him as family.

A visitation for Hubert is planned on Thursday, June 22 from 5-7pm at Radel Funeral Home on 650 Need Road, Cincinnati, OH. The funeral will be held on Friday, June 23 at 9am at Bridgetown Baptist Church on 5771 Bridgetown Road with a fellowship immediately following the service. All are invited to attend. The burial will be in Henry Clay Smith Family Cemetery in Oneida, Tennessee.

Those wishing to honor Hubert’s lifelong commitment to family and community can make donations in his name to The Christ Hospital Foundation, 2123 Auburn Avenue, Suite 528, Cincinnati, OH 45219 or online at https://www.thechristhospital.com/about-the-network/foundation/donate-online. Any gifts should be designated to the Heart & Vascular Research Fund.