ROMMIE COSWELL R.C. "COACH" SMITH, 82, of Santa
Anna, TX passed away July 11, 2014 in Brownwood, TX,
with interment at the Santa Anna Cemetery.
Rommie Coswell Smith was born October 17, 1931 in
Ranger, TX to the late Henry Woodfin Grady & Izetta
Mansfield Smith. After graduating from Ranger High
School in 1949, R.C. attended one year at Ranger Jr.
College. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy & was stationed
in California where he met the love of his life
Patricia Jean. They married in Livermore, CA in 1953.
Shortly after, R.C. and Pat moved to Texas and R.C.
attended North Texas State where he earned a Master’s
Degree. R.C. & Pat raised three children: Vicki, Dick
and Lori, and were members of the First Presbyterian
Church.
R.C. coached at Farmersville, Lockhart, Valley Mills,
Taylor and Santa Anna during his career and settled
in Santa Anna in 1972 where he served as coach, teacher,
principal and superintendent. From 1975 to 1986, R.C.
“Coach” Smith was the tennis coach at Santa Anna ISD
and sent 43 people to state competition. In 1983, R.C.
was named “Tennis Coach of the Year” for all classes
in Texas and during the following year, he was awarded
“Class A Coach of the Year.” In 1986, R.C. “Coach”
Smith was inducted in the Texas Tennis Coaches Hall
of Fame.
R.C. retired in 1986 and taught half a day until 1999.
After retirement, he continued volunteering and helpings
students at track and helped coach Hannah Hartman (a
third generation athlete) to 2nd place in Pole Vault at
state competition in 2013.
R.C. “Coach” Smith is survived by, a son - Richard "Dick"
Smith, and wife, Karen Wetsel Smith of Weatherford,
two daughters - Vicki Drake and husband, Robbie of
Brazoria, and Lori Kernes and husband, Jimmy of Lampasas,
one brother – Jimmy Smith of Burleson, and five grand-
children - Dana Ruiz and husband, Edgar of League City,
Ryne Smith of Houston, Cody Smith of Denton, Valerie
Kernes of Austin, and Audrey Kernes of Lampasas, a great-
grandchild - Katie Ruiz, & dear friends, Stanley Hartman
and Debbie Bacon.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Pat Henderson Smith,
& a sister, Edna Smith Herrington (RHS-1947).
WIFE: PATRICIA "PAT" JEAN HENDERSON SMITH, 81, of
Santa Anna, TX passed away March 1, 2014 at Baylor
Hospital in Dallas, with interment at the Santa Anna
Cemetery.
Pat was born Feb. 19, 1933, in Oakland, CA, to John
Thomas Henderson and Vera McGrue. She graduated from
Amador High School in Pleasanton, CA and in 1953, she
was married to Mr. R.C. (Rommie) Smith in Livermoore,
CA, and they celebrated 60 blessed years of marriage
prior to her passing.
Mrs. Smith had resided in Coleman County since 1959
and was a member and an Elder of the First Presbyterian
Church of Santa Anna. She had many hobbies and enjoyed
crafting greeting cards by embroidering them and she
made scarves and toboggans. Mrs. Smith loved to cook
and cook for others.
Mrs. Smith was a beloved employee Santa Anna ISD where
she started as an aide and later became the secretary
for the elementary school. After her retirement in 1999,
she volunteered at the Santa Anna ISD where she listened
to the third graders read. Pat was, and will continue to
be, well loved by many generations of students & faculty
that passed through the halls of the school throughout
the years as well as the entire community of Santa Anna.
At the time of her death, Mrs. Smith was survived by her
husband, R.C. “Coach” Smith of Santa Anna; a son, Richard
"Dick" Smith and wife Karen Wetsel Smith of Weatherford;
two daughters, Vicki Drake and husband Robbie of Brazoria
and Lori Kernes and husband Jimmy of Lampasas; and five
grandchildren, Dana Smith and her fiancé Edgar Ruiz of
League City, Ryne Smith of Houston, Cody Smith of Denton,
Valerie Kernes of Austin, and Audrey Kernes of Lampasas;
and one great-grandchild, Katie Ruiz.
She was preceded in death by her parents; & two sisters,
Mildred Howard and Virginia Gilbert.