Ross J. W. Smith was the 13th of 16 children, born on May 20, 1930, to Marietta Bridges Smith and George Washington Smith.
Ross J. W., known by many simply as “J.W.”, loved to talk about his early years in Kentucky, where he and his family lived on the farm, and how he and his sisters and brothers had to walk anywhere and everywhere! When Ross was 14 years of age, he, his mom and his three younger siblings moved to Indianapolis, Indiana. They, joined his father and older siblings who had come up a few months prior in hopes of finding jobs and their new home.
J. W. was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle, who truly loved life and his family. He lived to see five generation of his legacy. While he was small in physical stature, J. W. had so much spunk in that small frame. He was known to be a sharp dresser, always had on his shades, and boy could he cook!
Ross J. W. Smith left this world unexpectedly, on October 5, 2021, at the age of ninety-one years four months and sixteen days . He was preceded in death by his mother, Marietta; father, George; his first wife, Helen Campbell; his second wife, Ozella Danner; his brothers and sisters, and his son, Paul Smith.
Ross J. W. Smith is survived by his current wife of 20 years, Sandra West Smith; daughter, Patricia Smith (from his first wife, Helen); step-daughters, Shonna Hayes, Natasha Hayes, and Michelle Hayes, step-sons Troy West, and Kenny Hayes); his sister, Malinda Smith; five grandchildren, great- grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, and a host of four generations of nieces and nephews, other relatives and loved ones.
Humbly Submitted…………...The Family
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