David Gregory Smyth, 79, of Uvalde died on Aug. 6, 2016, at Uvalde Health Care and Rehabilitation Center. He was born on May 3, 1937, in Uvalde to Mary Nell (Robinson) and Lewis Miller Smyth Jr. He was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents; and several aunts, uncles and cousins. He is survived by his children and grandchildren. Smyth’s career included professional land surveying, heavy construction supervision, inspection and layout. He was also involved in land development and sales. He began his surveying experience in February 1956, and began a surveying company in 1977 in Frio County. According to the family, during his years in Frio County, Smyth served on the Dilley Independent School Board as a member and as president; he also formed the committee that was successful in bringing the Dolph Briscoe Unit Texas state prison to the outskirts of Dilley. In 2003, he moved the company to his hometown of Uvalde, where he renewed his membership in St. Philip’s Episcopal Church and reconnected with longtime friends. Smyth served as a director and officer of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors for 13 years and was elected by the membership as president in 1996 and 1997. The family says he was appointed by former Gov. Rick Perry to two six-year terms on the state regulatory board, the Texas Board of Professional Land Surveying, and was subsequently appointed chairman by Perry during his second term. The family says Smyth was highly esteemed by fellow surveyors and was considered an expert in river boundaries and retracement of historic ancient original surveys. Alongside other prominent surveyors, he presented two seminars annually to teach retracement of original surveys and gradient boundary techniques along with surveying ethics and standards. The family says over the course of his career, Smyth received numerous awards from the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors for exemplary surveying performance, and he will be missed by his friends in the surveying profession. Funeral services were held yesterday at 10 a.m. at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, followed by interment at Hillcrest Cemetery. The Rev. Mike Marsh officiated. Pallbearers were grandsons Alex Gifford, James Caton, Charley Caton, River Miller, Aidan Brotherton, and Trevor Smyth.
RUSHING-ESTES-KNOWLES MORTUARY, WWW.REKFUNERALS.COM
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