John C. Smith

Mr. John C. (Jonathan Charles) Smith, age 64 of Huntsville, TX died Thursday, February 14, 2013 in a Huntsville Hospital following a brief illness. He was born on November 27, 1948 in Port Arthur, TX the son of Henry Prentiss Smith and June Rose Meeks Smith. Mr. Smith has been a resident of Huntsville, Texas for the past nineteen years and was Christian by Faith. He graduated from Wharton High School in 1967 and then attended Wharton County Junior College and graduated from Stephen F. Austin College. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Houston at Clear Lake and his Master’s Degree from Sam Houston State University. He was an associate professor of theater and dance at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville. He was a veteran of the Viet Nam War serving in the U. S. Army. He was a member of the Screen Actors Guild and Theater the Actors Equity Association. He was the dance choreographer for the Miss Texas Pageant, for Juliet Prowse and toured with her in the production of MAME. He also performed with the Kansas City Ballet and performed in several musical in New York City. He also helped Sheila Taylor and the Wharton Tiger Stars. Funeral services were held at 10:00 am Monday, February 18, 2013 at the chapel of the Wharton Funeral Home with Mr. Paul Jones officiating. Burial followed in the Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery in Wharton. Survivors include his daughter, Jordan Smith of Chicago, IL; mother, June R. Smith of Wharton; sisters and brothers-in-law, Robin and Richard Matzke of Wharton and Kit and Doug Wilson of East Bernard; sister-in-law, Lynn Smith of Hungerford; several nieces and nephews and two great nieces. He was preceded in death by his father and a brother, Clifford P. Smith in 2011. Pallbearers were Doug Wilson, Richard Matzke, Paul Smith, Jacob Wilson, Samuel Wilson and Mark Gresham. Honorary pallbearers were all of his current and former students at Sam Houston State University. In lieu of usual remembrances the family request memorials to the American Diabetes Association.