Henry Decosta Smith

Henry Decosta Smith, 88, of Highlands, Texas, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2005, at nearby Baytown Hospital in Texas. Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Jan. 29, at Sterling-White Chapel of Highlands. Interment followed at White Cemetery in Highlands.Decosta was born August 28, 1916, in Conway, to Henry and Sadie (Robinson) Smith. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, repairing battleships on a floating dry dock in the South Pacific.He married Evelyn Densmore on May 31, 1941. He had been a resident of Highlands for 37 years, where he worked for Combustion Engineering, building electric power plants until his retirement in 1981. After he reitred, he spent many years working to restore the battleship Texas.He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Highlands. He was also active in the Masonic Lodge and the Boy Scouts of America for a time. In his spare time, he enjoyed hunting, fishing and boating, and was fond of waterskiing up until age 75. Decosta loved fixing things and would make rounds to the homes of his children on a regular basis to help fix or build whatever they needed.Decosta was preceded in death by his parents, brother Malcolm Smith, and sister Fern Hatch. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Evelyn Smith of Highlands; sons Preston Smith and wife Carolyn of Katy, Texas, Gary Smith and whife Saundra of Baytown, Texas; daughters, Donna Egan and husband Michael of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Sandy and husband Rick of Highlands; brothers, Carroll Smith and wife Lorna of Dover, Gene Smith and wife Molly of Dover, Ronald Smith of Conway, and Norman Smith of Jacksonville, Fla.; sister Velda Smith of Conway; ten grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. He is survived also by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.