wfn.org | ABCUSA: R. F. Smith, Well-Known Pastor and Community Leader, Dies

["SCHRAMM, Richard" <Richard.Schramm@abc-usa.org>]

American Baptist News Service (Valley Forge, Pa. 10/21/03)--The Rev. Dr. R.
F. Smith Jr., pastor emeritus of Fifth Avenue Baptist Church in Huntington,
W.V., and an influential church and community leader for decades, died Oct.
16 in Huntington.  Smith, who was 72, had battled cancer for several years.

Smith retired in 1999 after serving 21 years as pastor of Fifth Avenue
Baptist Church.  In addition to leading that large congregation (current
membership is nearly 1,500 members) in a variety of ministries, Smith also
helped establish and lead a number of civic endeavors serving the Huntington
community.  

Among those are the Cabell Huntington Hospital Pastoral Care Department,
Hospice of Huntington and the area branch of Habitat for Humanity.  He
served on the Cabell Huntington Hospital Board of Directors from 1987 to
1998.

Services were held this past Monday at Fifth Avenue Baptist Church.
Condolences for his wife, Faye, and two daughters may be sent to them at 56
Hamill Rd., Huntington, WV 25701-4755.

K/2003ABNS/03ABN126

American Baptist News Service: Office of Communication, American Baptist
Churches USA, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851; (800)ABC-3USA x2077
/ (610)768-2077; fax: (610)768-2320; www.abc-usa.org;
richard.schramm@abc-usa.org