Ben Smith

LARGO, FLA.- Mr. Bendell “Ben” Smith, 59, of Largo, passed away June 2, 2008. He was born in Asheville and moved to Florida in 1978. He was a member of First Methodist Church in Pinellas Park, Fla. He was in the financial business and was a mortgage broker prior to his employment with the U.S. Postal Office. He was a Vietnam veteran who served in the Army. He was the owner of land at 400 Hicks Road and was looking forward to becoming a resident of Lawndale.

He was a faithful husband, a good neighbor and held in high esteem by his co-workers at the post office who referred to him as “Uncle Ben” and said that “he was a 60’s kind of man always there to lend a helping hand.”

He was generous and loving. He fought a good fight, finished his course, won the victory and is gone to his heavenly mansion to be with those who have gone before.

He is survived by his wife, Rhonda of 35 years; a brother, Charles Smith of Fla; mother-in-law, Gladys McKnight of Shelby; brother-in-law, Stephen McKnight and wife, Joyce of Shelby; sister-in-law, Louann McKnight of Lawndale; niece, Kelly Newton of Ellenboro; nephews, C.K. of Fla, Stephen McKnight and wife, Tammy of Lawndale, Timothy McKnight and wife Becky, of Asheville, and Travis McKnight of Shelby; and three great nephews.

FUNERAL: A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 13, 2008 at Martin Street United Methodist Church.

OFFICIATING CLERGY: Dr. Horace Dubose III

MEMORIALS: In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ben Smith Memorial Fund at First United Methodist Church in N. Pinellas Park, Florida.