lowell conrad smitherman
TUSCALOOSA Lowell Conrad
Smitherman, age 82, died Sunday, March 30, 2008, at Hospice of West
Alabama. Graveside services will be held at Tuscaloosa Memorial Park on
Wednesday, April 2, at 3:00 p.m. with Dr. Charles Durham of First
Presbyterian Church officiating and Tuscaloosa Memorial Chapel Funeral
Home directing. The family will visit with friends following the
service.
Connie was born and raised in Tuscaloosa and graduated from Tuscaloosa High School in 1942. Following two years at The University of Alabama, he joined the United States Navy and spent the next several years fighting for his country during World War II. He served primarily in the Pacific theatre.
Upon his discharge from the Navy, he returned to Tuscaloosa and graduated from the University of Alabama in 1948 with a degree in chemistry. He married Ruth Patton in January 1948 and they enjoyed 55 years together until her death in 2003. He was employed as a pharmaceutical representative with Lederle Laboratories, now Wythe Pharmaceuticals, for his entire career.
Connie was very active in the Tuscaloosa tennis community and continued to play into his late 70s, before the effects of Parkinson's disease made playing too difficult. He was also a competitive sailor and was a founder of the Tuscaloosa Sailing Club, having served as the club's first Commodore. All of his sailboats were named "Ruthless" as both a testimony to his competitive spirit, as well as wife Ruth's steadfast refusal to accompany her husband in this sport.
Mr. Smitherman was predeceased by his parents, Lowell Cleveland Smitherman and Maxa Morrow Smitherman; his wife, Ruth; and son, Richard Patton Smitherman.
He is survived by a son, David C. Smitherman of Birmingham and daughter, Ann Brenizer (Scott) of Tuscaloosa. He is also survived by daughter-in-law, Torrey Van Antwerp Smitherman; grandchildren, David VanAntwerp Smitherman and Garet Patton Smitherman, all of Birmingham; Sgt. Robert Scott Brenizer, 82nd Airborne Division, US Army, of Fort Bragg, N.C., Sarah Patton Bryan, Kathryn Ann Bryan and James David (Bud) Bryan, all of Tuscaloosa.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Hospice of West Alabama, Alzheimer's of Central Alabama, P.O. Box 2273, Birmingham, AL 35201, or a charity of the donor's choice.
Connie was born and raised in Tuscaloosa and graduated from Tuscaloosa High School in 1942. Following two years at The University of Alabama, he joined the United States Navy and spent the next several years fighting for his country during World War II. He served primarily in the Pacific theatre.
Upon his discharge from the Navy, he returned to Tuscaloosa and graduated from the University of Alabama in 1948 with a degree in chemistry. He married Ruth Patton in January 1948 and they enjoyed 55 years together until her death in 2003. He was employed as a pharmaceutical representative with Lederle Laboratories, now Wythe Pharmaceuticals, for his entire career.
Connie was very active in the Tuscaloosa tennis community and continued to play into his late 70s, before the effects of Parkinson's disease made playing too difficult. He was also a competitive sailor and was a founder of the Tuscaloosa Sailing Club, having served as the club's first Commodore. All of his sailboats were named "Ruthless" as both a testimony to his competitive spirit, as well as wife Ruth's steadfast refusal to accompany her husband in this sport.
Mr. Smitherman was predeceased by his parents, Lowell Cleveland Smitherman and Maxa Morrow Smitherman; his wife, Ruth; and son, Richard Patton Smitherman.
He is survived by a son, David C. Smitherman of Birmingham and daughter, Ann Brenizer (Scott) of Tuscaloosa. He is also survived by daughter-in-law, Torrey Van Antwerp Smitherman; grandchildren, David VanAntwerp Smitherman and Garet Patton Smitherman, all of Birmingham; Sgt. Robert Scott Brenizer, 82nd Airborne Division, US Army, of Fort Bragg, N.C., Sarah Patton Bryan, Kathryn Ann Bryan and James David (Bud) Bryan, all of Tuscaloosa.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Hospice of West Alabama, Alzheimer's of Central Alabama, P.O. Box 2273, Birmingham, AL 35201, or a charity of the donor's choice.