Obituary for Sylvia Smith (Stanford)
On Wednesday, April 5, 2023, Sylvia Ann (Stanford) Smith passed away at age 86 surrounded by family.
Sylvia was born June 30, 1936, in the family home in Red Oak, TX, to Kent and Irene Stanford. Her ancestors settled in Red Oak in the early 1800s. Her parents owned and operated the Stanford Food Store which opened in 1939. Sylvia graduated from Red Oak High School as salutatorian in 1954 where she was on the state championship basketball team. Her professional career took her to Chester Hospital and Clinics and the United States Postal Service, where she retired as a rural letter carrier after 20 years. Sylvia married Richard (Dick) Neil Smith on February 21, 1959. Dick owned several businesses in Red Oak and loved working and helping people. They raised their children and enjoyed living and participating in community activities in Red Oak.
Sylvia’s retirement from the post office was not a time for relaxing. She was passionate about Ellis Country history and genealogy. She spent many hours in the day researching family trees and local history. Sylvia loved spending time with friends, many of whom would say they appreciated her great wisdom and could talk to her about anything. After retirement, she worked part time for local radio station KBEC, where she was the radio personality “Miss Ellie of Ellis County” and would teach local history to the listeners. She was also a featured TV historian on Good Morning Texas and on the Travel Channel show, “The Dead Files.”
Sylvia also worked tirelessly volunteering her time to local organizations and served on many boards and committees including: Chairman- Ellis County Historical Commission; President- Ellis County Genealogical Society; President- Ellis County Women's Building Board; President- Ellis County Museum Board; Chairman- Ellis County Child Welfare Board; Secretary- Red Oak High School Alumni Association; Red Oak Cemetery Board; Lancaster Genealogical Society Board; Rebecca Boyce Daughters of the American Revolution; Daffin-Latimer United Daughters of the Confederacy; Corresponding Secretary- Pleasant Run Daughters of the American Revolution; Secretary- Waxahachie Downtown Merchants Association; Vice President- Ellis County Rural Heritage Farm; Volunteer Coordinator- Ellis County Museum; Gingerbread Trail Committee; Crape Myrtle Festival Committee; Ellis County Veterans Appreciation Day Ceremony Greeter; Member of the Bibles & Bubbly Bunch; Member of The Silver Stars.
Sylvia received many local and state awards and designations including the Texas Historical Commission John Ben Shepperd County Historical Commission Leadership Award (2001); the Mable Frame Award by the Waxahachie Chamber of Commerce for her contributions relating to tourism (2013); and the Historic Preservation Leadership Award in recognition by Historic Waxahachie, Inc. (2015). She was also crowned the Waxahachie Crape Myrtle Queen (2015); and named the Grand Marshall for the Red Oak Homecoming Parade (2021), Distinguished Alumni by Red Oak High School Alumni Association (2021), and Ellis County Genealogical Society Outstanding Women of the Year (2023).
Sylvia was preceded in death by her parents; brother Von Gene Stanford; and husband Richard "Dick" Smith. She is survived by sisters Janice Davis and Linda (Dee) Stanford; her children Kevin Stanford (Carla), Neil Smith (Sheryl Goodson), Leslie Smith Loving (Jason); stepchildren Grace Fulton (Larry) and Sue Sturrock (Bill); and grandchildren Alyssa Standford Lowe, Brice Stanford, Meagan Smith Howell, Emma Smith, Ella Smith, Thomas Fulton, Davis Fulton, Elizabeth Fulton, and Justin Roberson; and great-grandchildren Sammy Stanford, Lu Stanford and June Howell.
In lieu of flowers, please make donation in Sylvia’s honor to:
Red Oak Cemetery
PO Box 248
Red Oak TX 75154
ROHS Alumni Association
Red Oak High School Sylvia Stanford Smith Scholarship Fund Attn: Laura Kelly
PO Box 9000
Red Oak TX 75154
Visitation: Wednesday April 12, 2023 6 – 8 pm at Boze, Mitchel, McKibbin
Funeral Home Funeral Service: Thursday April 13, 2023 2pm
Location: Boze, Mitchel, McKibbin Funeral Home 511 West Main St, Waxahachie, TX 75165
Burial after at Red Oak Cemetery 599 TX-342 Red Oak, TX 75154
Sylvia was born June 30, 1936, in the family home in Red Oak, TX, to Kent and Irene Stanford. Her ancestors settled in Red Oak in the early 1800s. Her parents owned and operated the Stanford Food Store which opened in 1939. Sylvia graduated from Red Oak High School as salutatorian in 1954 where she was on the state championship basketball team. Her professional career took her to Chester Hospital and Clinics and the United States Postal Service, where she retired as a rural letter carrier after 20 years. Sylvia married Richard (Dick) Neil Smith on February 21, 1959. Dick owned several businesses in Red Oak and loved working and helping people. They raised their children and enjoyed living and participating in community activities in Red Oak.
Sylvia’s retirement from the post office was not a time for relaxing. She was passionate about Ellis Country history and genealogy. She spent many hours in the day researching family trees and local history. Sylvia loved spending time with friends, many of whom would say they appreciated her great wisdom and could talk to her about anything. After retirement, she worked part time for local radio station KBEC, where she was the radio personality “Miss Ellie of Ellis County” and would teach local history to the listeners. She was also a featured TV historian on Good Morning Texas and on the Travel Channel show, “The Dead Files.”
Sylvia also worked tirelessly volunteering her time to local organizations and served on many boards and committees including: Chairman- Ellis County Historical Commission; President- Ellis County Genealogical Society; President- Ellis County Women's Building Board; President- Ellis County Museum Board; Chairman- Ellis County Child Welfare Board; Secretary- Red Oak High School Alumni Association; Red Oak Cemetery Board; Lancaster Genealogical Society Board; Rebecca Boyce Daughters of the American Revolution; Daffin-Latimer United Daughters of the Confederacy; Corresponding Secretary- Pleasant Run Daughters of the American Revolution; Secretary- Waxahachie Downtown Merchants Association; Vice President- Ellis County Rural Heritage Farm; Volunteer Coordinator- Ellis County Museum; Gingerbread Trail Committee; Crape Myrtle Festival Committee; Ellis County Veterans Appreciation Day Ceremony Greeter; Member of the Bibles & Bubbly Bunch; Member of The Silver Stars.
Sylvia received many local and state awards and designations including the Texas Historical Commission John Ben Shepperd County Historical Commission Leadership Award (2001); the Mable Frame Award by the Waxahachie Chamber of Commerce for her contributions relating to tourism (2013); and the Historic Preservation Leadership Award in recognition by Historic Waxahachie, Inc. (2015). She was also crowned the Waxahachie Crape Myrtle Queen (2015); and named the Grand Marshall for the Red Oak Homecoming Parade (2021), Distinguished Alumni by Red Oak High School Alumni Association (2021), and Ellis County Genealogical Society Outstanding Women of the Year (2023).
Sylvia was preceded in death by her parents; brother Von Gene Stanford; and husband Richard "Dick" Smith. She is survived by sisters Janice Davis and Linda (Dee) Stanford; her children Kevin Stanford (Carla), Neil Smith (Sheryl Goodson), Leslie Smith Loving (Jason); stepchildren Grace Fulton (Larry) and Sue Sturrock (Bill); and grandchildren Alyssa Standford Lowe, Brice Stanford, Meagan Smith Howell, Emma Smith, Ella Smith, Thomas Fulton, Davis Fulton, Elizabeth Fulton, and Justin Roberson; and great-grandchildren Sammy Stanford, Lu Stanford and June Howell.
In lieu of flowers, please make donation in Sylvia’s honor to:
Red Oak Cemetery
PO Box 248
Red Oak TX 75154
ROHS Alumni Association
Red Oak High School Sylvia Stanford Smith Scholarship Fund Attn: Laura Kelly
PO Box 9000
Red Oak TX 75154
Visitation: Wednesday April 12, 2023 6 – 8 pm at Boze, Mitchel, McKibbin
Funeral Home Funeral Service: Thursday April 13, 2023 2pm
Location: Boze, Mitchel, McKibbin Funeral Home 511 West Main St, Waxahachie, TX 75165
Burial after at Red Oak Cemetery 599 TX-342 Red Oak, TX 75154