James Wallace "Jim" Smith

James “Jim” Wallace Smith, 86, of Lake Charles, LA, died at 12:30 AM on Monday, January 28, 2019 in a local care facility.

Mr. Smith was born August 10, 1932 in Ashland, LA and has been a resident of Lake Charles for the past 57 years.  He was a graduate of LaGrange High School and received his Associates degree from Sowela Technical Institute.  He served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict.  Mr. Smith worked as a Telecommunications Engineer for KPLC and later for RCA Service Company.  He was a member of Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church.  He always enjoyed working with computers, but his true passion in life was for his family.

Mr. Smith is survived by his wife of sixty-seven years, Clara Ann Stutes Smith; daughters, Mellanie Pflum, Andrea Bryant and husband Bruce, and Katrina Kersch and husband Steve; son, James R. Smith and wife Colleen; grandchildren, Jennifer Kennedy, Melissa Clanton and husband Steve, Dustin Shirley and wife Misty, Grant Shirley and fiancée Lisa SanMiguel, and James Nicholas Smith; five great-grandchildren, Oliver, Emily, Makenzie, Cooper, and Hudson; and God-child, Charlotte Carnahan.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Odell and Virgie Smith; brothers, Marvin Smith and Carlton Smith; and son-in-law, Julius Pflum.

His memorial mass will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, February 1, 2019 at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, followed by military honors.  Father Nathan Long will officiate.  Visitation will be at Johnson Funeral Home on Thursday from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM with a rosary at 5:00 PM.