Cullen Warren Smith

Cullen Warren Smith was born in Tatum TX on August 18, 1932 to parents, Charles T. and Leora Thornsberry Smith. His family moved around quite a bit and lived in Longview for a little while. There, he met Patsy Ruth Vanderslice on the school bus. They dated for a while, and then later married on a Christmas Eve.

They lived in Athens, TX for a while, but later they moved to Dallas, and after working several odd jobs, Cullen got a job working in the parts department of a Chevy dealership. This was to be his main career, during which he sometimes got the opportunity to pick up and deliver parts, and even deliver new cars and bring back the old trade-ins.

After inheriting property in Longview, Cullen and Patsy followed their desire to get back to their country roots, and so sold the house in Dallas, and moved back to Longview, where they began to enjoy their retirement.
Some of Cullen’s favorite things:  Going up to the local diner for coffee and to swap stories with the other senior men that lived nearby; Listening to Bluegrass music (he got to travel a few times with his brother Joe, who played fiddle in a bluegrass band); Taking long walks on the road where he lived and visiting with the neighbors. He also loved watching westerns, but his all-time favorite was Gunsmoke.

Cullen was enlisted in the Air Force during the Korean War, and was deployed to Germany as a medic aid. Germany must have been pretty impressive because he always loved to tell about the time he was there.

Cullen passed away peacefully in his sleep on December 4, 2022. He was proceeded in death by his parents, his wife Patsy, 2 sisters, and 3 brothers. He is survived by his children: Steven  W. Smith and wife Susan P., Ringgold, GA, Curtis R. Smith, Longview, TX, and Terry G. Dyer, Garland, TX; grandchildren: S. Nathan Smith and wife Amanda, Ringgold, GA, and Shelley L. Gravley and husband Dewayne, also of Ringgold, GA; 5 great grandchildren: Wyatt, Caleb, Noah, James, and Hannah; one brother, John C. Smith, Wills Point, TX, and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.

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