Smith

Alva Leah Smith, 93, of Bellville, Texas, went to be with the Lord of Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009.

Alva Leah was born in Bellville on Oct. 26, 1915 to Charles Kiesewetter and Selma Lischka Kiesewetter.

She attended Bellville High School where she graduated salutatorian in 1933, an accomplishment she was very proud of.

On Aug., 28, 1934, Alva Leah married the love of her life, Charlie G. Smith.

She had a huge heart and found any way she could to lend a helping hand. She constantly volunteered to be a room mother at school for her two children, was PTO president, and Band Parents’ President. She was also President of the Ladies’ Golf Association and was very involved in the church, serving as President of the Women’s Society of Christian Service and teaching Bible School for many years. Card games were Alva Leah’s specialty.

She loved to play Bridge and made sure she set aside time each week to do so with her friends. She also loved working in her yard and taking care of flowers.

After Charlie retired, he and Alva Leah picked up golf. Both of them became avid golfers and she a very good putter. She was a devoted mother and grandmother who was in love with her family and would never dream of missing an event her children or grandchildren were involved in.

Alva Leah is survived by her daughter, Sharron Higginbotham, and her husband Joe of Bellville, son, Kent Smith, and his wife BJ of Brazoria, grandchildren J.D. Higginbotham and his wife Heather, Dawn Yantis and her husband Dusty, Steven Wicker and his wife Kathy, and Sandra Consilio and her husband Richard, and great grandchildren Callie, Kacie and Jace Yantis, Zachary, Jacob, Mitchell and Marin Higginbotham, Dylan and Joshua Wicker, Anthony Consilio, Dillon Longino, and Kayann and Abi Wicker.

Alva Leah was preceded in death by her husband Charlie Smith, parents, Charles and Selma Kiesewetter, and by her sister and brother-in-law, Valeria and Vinton Bayne.

Funeral services were held on Friday, Jan. 9, 2009 at 10 a.m. at the Bellville United Methodist Church with pastor Robert Stutes officiating. A visitation was held on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009 at Knesek Funeral Home from 6-8 p.m. Interment was at Pilgrim’s Rest Cemetery in Bellville.

Serving as pallbearers were J.D. Higginbotham, Dusty Yantis, Jace Yantis, Steven Wicker, Richard Consilio, and Dylan Wicker. Honorary pallbearers were Zachary, Jacob and Mitchell Higginbotham, Dillon Longino, Joshua Wicker and Anthony Consilio.

The family suggests donations be made to the Bellville United Methodist Church, 234 S. Masonic St., Bellville, TX 77418, and Hospice Brazos Valley, 302 E. Blue Bell Rd., Brenham, TX 77833.