Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

October 15, 2023

Lewis Ruil Smith was born on December 15, 1928, to Ruil H. Smith and Ethel Lewis Smith, in Eatonton, Georgia. Upon hearing the baby’s name, his young Uncle Roy, said, “But he doesn’t have even one name of his own! Lewis is his mother’s maiden name. Ruil is his father’s name. And, Smith is everyone’s name!” From this inauspicious start, Lewis lived almost 95 years and he certainly made a name for himself! He died peacefully in Charlotte, NC on October 15, 2023.

As an only child, Lewis loved school and did well in every subject. He went to state level piano competitions. He attended First Baptist Church, Eatonton. At 12 years old, he felt a call to be a missionary and made a commitment to become one when he was old enough. He also enjoyed the debate team, RAs, and playing basketball,. After 11th grade, Lewis graduated as Valedictorian from Eatonton High School in 1944. 

Lewis was accepted on scholarship to Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. He sang in the Glee Club, enjoyed his studies, and majored in history. In his senior year, he changed his major to pre-med. Years later he told his daughter, “Luckily I liked science, so I had taken all the right courses, just for fun.” He graduated from Mercer in 1948. Before going to medical school, he studied theology for one year at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. 

In 1949, he enrolled at Georgia Medical College. In 1953, his final year of medical school, Lewis worked at Macon hospital in Macon, Georgia. Mutual friends encouraged him to date Shirley Ann Gibbs, who was studying to become a registered nurse. After dating for several months, he proposed on Valentines’ Day. Shirley was surprised at the romantic timing, until she found out he didn’t realize it was Valentines’ Day. They married on July 1st, 1954, in Brunswick, Georgia.

Almost immediately, the US Air Force sent Dr. Lewis Smith to Tripoli, Libya, where he became Captain Lewis Smith, MD, and worked in the hospital at Wheelus US Air Force base. Shirley followed him a few months later. In May, 1956, one of the other USAF doctors delivered their first child, Karen Elizabeth Smith. Lewis completed his stint with the US Air Force on July 1 of that same year. 

Lewis and Shirley took their young family to Macon, GA, where their second child, Catherine (Cathy) Susan Smith, was born in February 1958. That Fall the family moved, to Wake Forest, NC, where Lewis and Shirley enrolled in seminary in preparation to become Southern Baptist Missionaries. While in Wake Forest, the family welcomed David Ruil Smith, born in Raleigh, in May 1959.  Lewis’s cousin remembers driving with her parents and Lewis’s parents to Richmond, VA where Lewis and Shirley were commissioned as FMB Medical Missionaries.

In January 1960, the Smith family arrived in Hong Kong. Lewis and Shirley studied Cantonese four hours a day for two years.  Lewis also began work as a doctor in the Baptist Clinic, and helped to administer the planning and building of a new hospital, while Shirley had her hands full caring for three children. Hong Kong Baptist Hospital was dedicated and opened in 1963.

The oldest children have memories of Lewis coming in the door from a long day at work. All three would scramble to him as he picked them all up at once in a big bear hug. Early memories involve Lewis playing piano fo the lead violinist from the Hong Kong Symphony Orchestra who came to the Smith home to practice a piano/violin duet. To this day, they remember lying in bed and hearing that beautiful lullaby, the Franck Sonata in A Major, Allegretto. It is still a favorite. 

Another big event in the Smith’s first term in Hong Kong was the arrival of their fourth child, Deborah Ruth Smith, in March 1963. Lewis was accompanying a Christian singer on a tour of Southeast Asia, where they performed in front of the King of Thailand. Deborah arrived two weeks early and Lewis hurried home to meet her.

The Smith family returned to the USA for a furlough in Macon, GA, in 1965, and then again for an extended leave from 1969 to 1972. Lewis completed surgery residencies in Georgia and Louisiana. Back in Hong Kong, with Dr. Don Langford, another missionary doctor, Lewis founded the “Langford and Smith Medical Group.” This practice became a model for SBC medical missionaries to serve all patients including those who could not afford the needed care.

As the Smith children graduated high school, and returned to the USA , Lewis learned Mandarin, the official language of China. He and Shirley traveled to several regions of mainland China at the invitation of the Chinese government, to teach modern techniques in non-urban hospitals which allowed them to build special, lasting relationships in China.

In 1993, Lewis and Shirley Smith retired after 33 years of service as SBC missionaries. They found a home in Eatonton, GA ,near Lewis’s mother, Ethel Smith.  For a short while, Lewis worked in a medical practice and Shirley worked at the hospital. They attended FBC, Eatonton. 

In retirement they enjoyed time with their children, grandchildren, and extended family in Georgia, North Carolina, and the Washington D.C. area.  When Lewis stopped practicing medicine, he created a flourishing garden, with a koi pond. He knew the scientific names and requirements for every plant and tree in his garden. Building a home next door to them, Lewis and Shirley provided care for his mother, “Miss Ethel,” until her death at 99 ½ years of age, in 2009.

In April 2011, their son Dave Smith contracted a sudden illness and died on June 2, 2011. He was buried with military honors at what was then called Fort Benning, Georgia.

In February 2012, Lewis and Shirley moved to Aldersgate Retirement Community in Charlotte, NC where their daughter, Karen, was chaplain. Lewis and Shirley lived in an independent apartment. Shirley joined every club including clubs for writing, painting, crafts, and she attended Bible Studies. She and Lewis enjoyed sharing meals with new friends in the dining room. Lewis especially enjoyed musical program by children and youth choirs. In July 2016, Lewis and Shirley moved from their apartment to Assisted Living where they could receive more medical assistance. A few months later, Shirley moved to the Memory Support Assisted Living.

Lewis remained active, but several physical health setbacks led to his move in 2019, to the Asbury Skilled Nursing building on the Aldersgate campus. He thrived at Asbury. He had a power chair that gave him independence. He and his friends enjoyed gathering for meals in the dining room. He loved working jigsaw puzzles, at first in his room, and later with the staff’s help,  at a big puzzle table in the Living Room. Dad worked many puzzles with his friends and staff at that table. 

In July 2020, Shirley Ann Gibbs Smith contracted COVID and died within a week. Shirley died peacefully and we know she went to be with her God. Lewis’s words upon her death were, “Shirley is Shirley again. She is whole.” 

During the pandemic of 2020, Asbury offered iPads to their residents so that family members could stay in touch with the gift of quick FaceTime calls. During an early call with Lewis, Deborah suggested they work on crossword puzzles together. And a new era began! From 2020 through 2023, daughters, Deborah and Cathy, each made appointments with Lewis twice a week. Lewis’s health and happiness improved, and soon “15 minute” sessions lengthened into 1-2 hours. Lewis’s brain and intelligence never failed. He remained smart and quick-witted. Sometimes he got the answers when his daughters did not! What a gift those times were to him and for his daughters.

In 2023, the family noticed a decline in Lewis’s health. At the beginning of October, there was a sudden and obvious change. Lewis mentioned that he wasn’t sure that he would make it to his 95th birthday in December. Hospice was called in. He still had lucid moments, but his body was shutting down and he was at peace about having lived a good life. His loved ones were able to spend several days visiting with him in person and via phone and FaceTime, including his great grandchildren, Lyla, Wesley and Marley, who were all able to speak (or to wave) to him.

Dr. Lewis Ruil Smith died at 2:30 PM on October 15, 2023, with family at his bedside as he went peacefully from this world. He joined Shirley and Dave, and many others who went on before him. Lewis is whole again. 

His wife, his son and his parents predeceased Lewis. He is survived by daughters: Karen (Carlton) Moore, Charlotte, NC; Cathy (David) Caviness, Clifton, VA; and Deborah Smith, Washington DC. Daughter-in-law: Marla Smith, Atlanta, GA. Grandchildren: Sara Smith, Rachel (Becky) Smith-Hunter, Emily (Robbie) Yancey, Stephen (Kylie) Caviness. Great grandchildren: Lyla and Wesley Yancey, Marley Caviness.

A small memorial service will be held at Asbury in Charlotte, NC for family members and the Asbury residents and staff on October 28, 2023, at 11:30 AM. A funeral service and committal with military honors, will be held on Saturday, November 18,2023, 2:00 PM at First Baptist Church, Eatonton, Georgia with visitation at 1:00 PM prior to the service.

Donations may be made to the Aldersgate Residents Assistance Fund, Finance Dept, 3800 Shamrock Dr, Charlotte, NC 28210.