David Eugene Smith

David Eugene Smith, age 81, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on November 16, 2025. He lived in the Fork Mountain community of Franklin County. He was born on June 28, 1944, in Williamsport, PA to Kenneth & Wilma (Carn) Smith. The family moved to Depew, NY shortly after his birth where he grew up, attending and graduating from Depew High School in 1963.

Following his high-school graduation, he began his newspaper career at the Buffalo Evening News, Buffalo, NY, where he was employed twice. During this time, he attended Tennessee Temple and State University of New York at Buffalo. He also spent a year in Brooklyn working with Dave Wilkerson at Teen Challenge.

In 1970 he married his wife Joan Morgan and moved to Kentucky, where he was employed by The Voice Newspaper as well as doing missionary work. Later, he went to work at Tri-City News in Cumberland where he remained until coming to Franklin County in 1975 to join the staff of the Franklin News-Post where he worked until retirement in 2015.

He enjoyed music as well as playing the organ at area churches. He was the organist at St. James United Methodist Church, Ferrum, VA, for 32 years until a stroke prevented him from carrying on these duties. He also sang with the praise team at Living Waters Assembly of God, Rocky Mount.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Joan in 2017.

Surviving him are his son and wife, David and Meredith Smith, and two grandchildren. He is also survived by three cousins, Robert Helm, Scott and James Carn, and family in Williamsport, PA. Also surviving are his “special friends” Tommy and Terrie Basham who did so much to help him during his final days at Rocky Mount Health and Rehab. Tommy was like a true brother to him.

The family would like to request donations to the Franklin County Humane Society in lieu of flowers.

A celebration of David’s life will be conducted at 1 PM Saturday, December 6, 2025 at Conner-Bowman Funeral Home with the Rev. Tommy Basham and the Rev. Lori Anne Kirk officiating.

Arrangements by Conner-Bowman Funeral Home & Crematory, 62 VA Market Place Drive, Rocky Mount, VA 24151.