Alva Lynn Smith, 85, of Blooming Grove, Texas passed away on Monday, November 18, 2024. He was born on September 12, 1939, in Slay township near Frost, Texas to parents Alva Clyde (A.C.) and Effie Mae York (Smith). He was one of the diminishing number of engineers that actually put men on the moon and brought them back safely.

Alva Lynn, (aka Pops), was Salutatorian of the Frost High School Class of 1958. He met Laura Jane McGraw in the summer of 1956, and they were married on June 6, 1958, at Central Baptist Church in Blooming Grove.

Together, they set off to the University of Texas at Austin, where Alva Lynn graduated with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering. While in Austin, they welcomed their first child, Donna Kay Smith (Seely).

He was proud of his time at NASA in Houston, where he worked on the Gemini and Apollo space programs.

They soon welcomed a son, Michael McGraw Smith and with a third child on the way, Keitha Lynn Smith (McDougald), a longing for home saw the family relocate to Navarro County, where Alva Lynn and Jane could raise their children near family and install the smalltown values that they cherished.

Blooming Grove and Frost, where he had farming and ranching interests, became home. To further his career, he accepted the position of City Engineer for the City Corsicana. He then worked at Watkins Construction as head of Municipal Utility estimating and construction.

His career later led him to commute to Dallas 5 days-a-week as a department head for the DOD, NRC and finally the EPA, where he retired at age 60 as a GS-14. Wherever he worked, he hired people from "home" to positions at which they thrived and prospered.

In his later years, he enjoyed time with his best friend and confident, Laura Jane, and his 5 grandchildren. He served as Mayor of Blooming Grove, city councilman of Blooming Grove, Lions Club Officer and he was a devoted member of Central Baptist Church. He became a Civil War historian and a master genealogist. In his final few years, he was caregiver to his wife of 66 years, Laura Jane, and he did it with love and compassion until her passing on June 8, 2024.

Alva Lynn was preceded in death by his spouse, Laura Jane McGraw Smith, his parents, Alva Clyde and Effie Mae Smith, sister Linda Smith Brown, brothers-in-law Bob and Jack McGraw, Jerry Brown and Pete Peters.

Sisters®-in-law Francis McGraw and Patricia McGraw, niece Mary McGraw and nephew Lee McGraw.

Alva Lynn is survived by his children: Donna Seely and husband Loran, Keitha McDougald and husband Andy, and son, Michael Smith and daughter-in-law Lynn Paulo. Grandchildren: Dr. Andrew Seely and wife Ashlie, Philip Seely and wife, Micha, Corey McDougald and wife, Chloe, Emory McDougald and Aidan Smith. Great Grandchildren: Astrid, Augustus, Annika, Eastyn, Bowen, Gunner and Gavin. Brother-in-law Mack McGraw and wife Mary, brother-in-law Billy Wayne McGraw, sister-in-law Kathryn Peters and sister-in-law Wanda McGraw.

In addition, he is survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visitation will be Saturday, November 23, 2024, at Central Baptist Church in Blooming Grove at 10:00 am. A funeral service will follow at 11:00 am with Bro. Darren Heil leading the fellowship. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Blooming Grove, Texas. Pallbearers include Tim Brown, Dr. Andrew Seely, Philip Seely, Corey McDougald, Emory McDougald and Aidan Smith. Honorary Pallbearers include Chris Brown, David Peters, Jeff McGraw, Todd McGraw, Kasey McGraw, Tim McGraw, G. Scott McGraw, Kyle McGraw, Travis McGraw and Charlie McGraw.

The family asks that those wishing to make donations do so to Central Baptist Church, Building Fund, P.O. Box 286, Blooming Grove, TX 76626.