Hyman Smith

Notes:

His Texas Death Certificate showed he was a retired merchant, and listed his place of birth as Lithuania. Father was shown as Solomon Smith, and for this mother, there was "no record" of her maiden name. The informant was his wife.

Kovno was a governorate of Russia, and is known as Kaunas, the second largest city in present day Lithuania. Prior to the Second World War, Kaunas, like many cities in eastern Europe, had a significant Jewish population. According to the Russian census of 1897, Jews numbered 25,500, 35.3% of the total of 73,500. The population was recorded as 25.8% Russian, 22.7% Polish, 6.6% Lithuanian. They established numerous schuls and synagogues, and were important for centuries to the culture and business of the city.

The 1920 Texas census shows he and both his parents as born in Russia, and his year of immigration as 1902, and that he became a naturalized citizen of the U.S. in 1907. His occupation was listed as merchant, dry good store.

The 1930 census showed Hyman born in Lativa, and Betty born in Poland, with both sons incorrectly shown as born in Texas. He was shown as a retail merchant of Dry Goods, and Betty was a sales lady at their store. The home they lived in was valued at $5,000.

Hyman married Betty Katz before 1910. Betty was born on 15 Apr 1890 in Russian Empire; died on 30 Aug 1975 in Dallas, Dallas County, Texas; was buried in Ahavath Achim Cemetery, Tyler, Smith County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

On the 1940 census, Israel, his wife, Eve, and son Emmanuel were living on Belmont Street in Tyler, Texas. He was an attorney in private practice.


Obituary, copied from his FindAGrave memorial page:

Israel Smith, of Tyler, who passed away on Wednesday, September 7, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, March 24 1911. In 1915 he moved with his family to Tyler where he made his lifetime home.

Mr. Smith was a graduate of John Tyler High School and received his BA and LLB degrees from the University of Texas. In 1937 he married the late Eve Abramsky of Kingston, Ontario, Canada; they were married for 69 years. He is survived by his children, Manny and Ileane Smith of Pittsburgh, PA and Jerome and Sharon Smith of Lexington, MA, his granddaughter Judy and Adam Kaufman, great grandchildren Jamie and Jake Kaufman of Sharon, MA. One grandson, David Smith, predeceased him.

Mr. Smith was a prominent lawyer in the Tyler legal community for many years. He also was a Founder of Western Foundry and served as its president until its acquisition by Woodward Corporation in 1959. He served as Regional Vice President of the Texas Manufacturers' Association and Chairman of the Texas Chapter of the American Foundrymens Society. Mr. Smith was a Shriner and Past Master of St. John's Masonic Lodge.

He was a lifelong, active member of the Tyler Jewish community, as a member and past president of Congregation Ahavath Achim, a past president of the Tyler B'nai Brith and Jewish Federation of Tyler. He was also a strong and passionate supporter of the State of Israel.

He was an avid reader, loved opera, travel and gardening. He continued his education and love of learning throughout his life and was a frequent user of the Tyler Public Library and the UT Tyler cultural series.

On March 24, 2011, Mr. Smith celebrated his 100th birthday with a special service and brunch at Congregation Ahavath Achim attended by many members of his family, friends and admirers. In recognition of his 100th birthday, the Senate of Texas passed Resolution No. 462 on March 9.2011; he also received many awards and letters of commendation from national, state and local officials.

Mr. Smith had the benefit in recent years of loving care by Veronica Wade, Lula Johnson, Margie Jackson, Ruthie Shaw, Martha Becerra, Katrina Sanders, and Kathy Tull.
Graveside services were held on September 9 at Ahavath Achim Cemetery. Contributions may be made to contributions to Congregation Ahavath Achim, 3501 S Donnybrook, Tyler, TX 75701. Arrangements by Lloyd James Funeral Home of Tyler. www.lloydjamesfuneralhome.com

Family/Spouse: Eve Ambramsky. Eve was born on 16 Mar 1912 in Kingston, Frontenac County, Ontario, Canada; died on 22 Aug 2006 in Tyler, Smith County, Texas; was buried in Ahavath Achim Cemetery, Tyler, Smith County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Obituary, copied from his FindAGrave Memorial page:

Sol Smith of Austin, 92, passed away on March 18, 2006. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on August 27, 1913, to his parents, Hyman and Betty Smith, who immigrated to America from Lithuania and Poland. The family moved to Tyler, Texas, in 1915, where Sol grew up and later worked in the family store on the town square. He attended The University of Texas, where he played alto saxophone in the Longhorn Band, was a proud member of Tau Delta Phi fraternity, earned his BS degree in 1935 and then his MS degree in Chemical Engineering in 1937. His career in the oil and gas industry spanned 69 years. He was first employed by The Texas Railroad Commission, Oil & Gas Division and then Mobil Oil. During WW II he served as the engineer at the Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. In 1948, Sol established his own petroleum engineering consulting firm in Austin, where he continued to work for 58 years. He was a member of The Society of Professional Engineers, of NARO-Texas where he served as a Board Member, and was published numerous times in The Oil & Gas Journal. Sol was a lifetime member of Congregation Beth Israel where he served as President of the Brotherhood and later as President of the Congregation.

Sol was married to his beloved Dorothy (Dolly) Cohen of Wichita Falls for over 42 years until her passing in 1988.

He is survived by his brother, Israel Smith and his wife Eve of Tyler, his longtime companion, Sue Johnson of Round Rock; his sons, Larry Smith and wife Sheryl of Houston, Darrold Smith of Austin, Randy Smith and partner, Ofer Kamil of Los Angeles; grandson, Greg Smith and wife Julie of Houston; great-granddaughter, Dori Smith of Houston; grandson, Scott Smith and wife Susan of New York City; brothers-in-law, Walter Cohen of Austin and Alfred (Shuggie) Cohen of Ft. Worth; and many loving nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.

Funeral Services followed by burial will be held at Beth Israel III in the Cook-Walden/Capital Park Cemetery in Pflugerville on Monday, March 20, 2006, at 2:00 p.m.

[Published in the Austin American-Statesman on 3/19/2006.]

Solomon married Dorothy "Dolly" Rose Cohen on 2 Jan 1946 in Smith County, Texas. Dorothy was born on 3 Jan 1923 in Wichita Falls, Wichita County, Texas; died on 7 Jun 1988 in Austin, Travis County, Texas; was buried in Cook-Walden Capital Parks Cemetery, Pflugerville, Travis County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]