Obituary of Alvin Smith

Alvin Hoge Smith, 92 of Roanoke went home to be with the Lord, Friday, February 7, 2014. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Ida Sublett Smith, and a brother, Carl V. Smith. Alvin was a graduate of Jefferson High School and later Roanoke College. In 1949, he was selected the Monogram Club's Athlete of the Year. That year he lead the Roanoke College Maroons to the Mason-Dixon Conference Cross Country Championship, and to the State AAU Championship. Alvin held the State title for the mile run and set college records in the mile, 880, and two -mile events. In 1950-51, he assisted as a coach for both cross country and track and field, helping with the rebuilding of those programs at Roanoke College. He was inducted into the college's Hall of Fame in 1971. He remained an avid runner well into his early 80's and was a founding organizing member of the Bank of Fincastle's Fall Run. In addition to running he was an avid collector of model trains of all kinds. He served in the U S Navy during World War II and was retired from General Electric. Surviving are his loving and devoted wife of nearly 54 years, Betty McDowell Smith; nephew, David O. Smith and wife Debbie of Blacksburg; sisters-in-law, Rosemary Deaton and Dianne Gulden of Roanoke; brother-in-law, Ronald McDowell of Daytona Beach, Florida In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to the Track and Field Program at Roanoke College. Funeral services will be conducted 1 p.m. Tuesday, February 11, 2014 at Simpson Funeral Home 5160 Peters Creek Road by the Rev. Robert McRae. Interment will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Simpson Funeral Home. 366-0707