Floyd "Smitty" Smith

Floyd E. “Smitty” Smith, 77, of Waco, Texas, passed away Monday, September 21, 2026. A Celebration of Life with military honors will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, October 10, 2026, at OakCrest Funeral Home, 4520 Bosque Blvd., with Dr. Jim Moshinskie officiating. The Wake will be from 5–7 p.m. Friday, October 9, 2026, also at OakCrest Funeral Home. Family will have private burial services at a later date.

Floyd “Smitty” Smith was born on August 9, 1949, in Corning, NY, to the late William E. and Betty G. Smith. Smitty grew up most of his life in and around farms throughout Upstate NY towns of Corning, Hornell, Campbell, Almond, Jasper and Avoca. He was into soccer and carpentry throughout his high school years. He left to join the Marines in where he served overseas in England, Scotland, and Germany and was assigned to the USS Canopus.

He met Juanita “Nita” Rodriguez Franco—who preceded him in death on May 6, 2008—at Fort Hood, Texas. They were later married on Nov. 5, 1977, at Fort Richardson, Alaska, where he gained six children—four girls: Jeannie, Patricia, Margaret, and Jacqueline; and two boys: Michael Joe and Paul. Eventually, they had a child together, Lynda. They moved around to various locations during Smitty’s military career including Georgia, Virginia/Washington D.C, Upstate New York and then they came full circle to retire in Waco, TX in 1993. After Smitty’s military retirement, he owned his own construction company, worked with Habitat for Humanity, worked in Commercial Sales at Lowe’s, an Instructor at McLennan Community College for Construction then got his teaching degree in 2005 to become the Buildings Trade Teacher at Waco High School until his retirement in 2016 as well as a member of the Skills USA for Texas.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Juanita Smith; his mother, Betty G. Smith; his father, William E. Smith; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Jose and Beulah Rodriguez; his brothers, Mark Smith, William Smith and Neil Smith; his brothers-in-law, Wallace "Luppy" Roderiguez, Sam Caldera and John Rodriguez; his sister-in-law, Helen Smith; his son-in-law, Timothy Wetzel; and several aunts and uncles.

He leaves to cherish his memory are his children, Lynda Smith of Texas, Patricia Franco of New Mexico, Margaret Franco-Denmon and husband, Clyde of Texas, Jacqueline Wetzel of Florida, Michael Franco and wife, Lonnita of Georgia, Paul Franco and wife, Ronna of Texas, and Gloria "Jeanie" Thibodeau and husband, Steve of Georgia; six brothers - Thomas Smith, Stephen Smith, Ernest Smith, Ray Smith, Ira Smith, Patrick Smith and all their families; five sisters, Betty Mills, Berdenia Qualls, Tina Mattison, Teresa Smith and Denira Soper and their families; his sisters-in-law, Tillie Roderiguez of Colorado, Becky Smith of Kansas and Christine Rodriguez of Texas; 18 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends and all that worked with him especially at Waco High School which he considered part of his family as well.