Larry L. Smith

Larry L. Smith

1941-2023

Larry Lynn Smith passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 30, 2023. He was born June 22, 1941, in Duncan, Oklahoma, to his father, Lawrence (Bill), and mother, Deltha Smith.

At a very early age, Larry developed a hardworking and entrepreneurial spirit. He began by mowing lawns and, by age eleven, became a newspaper carrier for the Duncan Banner, where he worked in the circulation department until graduating from Duncan High School in 1959. During his senior year of high school, Larry was sports editor of the school paper. He attended Central State College in Edmond, graduating in 1963 with a BA in English and minors in journalism and business. While at Central State, Larry was editor of the alumni newsletter, advertising manager and editor of the school paper, The Vista, program chair, and vice president and president of the Central State Press Club. He received the Outstanding Freshman Journalism Award and was a Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity member.

While in college, Larry met and married Frankie Shirleen Jones. They graduated in May 1963, and their daughter, Shonda, was born in January 1964.

Larry started his career as an advertising salesman for The Altus Times-Democrat newspaper, sold advertising for The Daily Oklahoman and Times newspaper, and worked six years as an account executive for three different advertising agencies.

After marrying his second wife, Brenda Sue Williams, in 1973, he became stepfather to her daughter, Shanda. Together, they started their ad agency, Larry Smith Advertising, in 1974. Three years later, their son Tyler was born.

As the agency grew, he later changed its name to Smith & Associates. Larry and Brenda retired in 2008 after their son took over the family business and rebranded the company as Traction Marketing.

Larry received the American Advertising Federation’s highest award, the Silver Medal for Distinguished Service. He served as president or board member of numerous business, civic, and non-profit organizations and is past president of the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. He was a 29-year Rotarian and a Paul Harris Fellow. He served in multiple churches in various capacities throughout his life. In retirement, he supported Brenda during her final years until her passing in 2015.

In 2018, he married Robin Mason and was welcomed into her family of three children and five grandchildren, as well as her many friend groups. He and Robin enjoyed seven active and joyful years socializing and traveling in the company of good friends and family.

Larry was known as a humble, generous, and fun-loving man of faith with a servant’s heart, fully devoted to his children and grandchildren. When not with family, you’d find him on the golf course with some of his best friends.

Larry is survived by his wife Robin Smith of Edmond; his sister Neva Hendrickson of Chula Vista, CA; his three children: Shonda Vielbig (Eric) of Ventura, CA, Shanda Prescott (Chris) of Flower Mound, TX, and Tyler Smith (Kathy) of Edmond; and his six grandchildren: Taylor Prescott of Corpus Christi, TX, Court Prescott of Dallas, TX, Joseph Vielbig (Kaitlyn) of Ventura, CA, Emma Vielbig of Brooklyn, NY, Jack Vielbig of San Diego, CA, and Braddock Smith of Edmond.

Larry’s memorial service will be held Friday, January 12, at 1 pm in the Chapel at Crossings Community Church, 14600 N. Portland Avenue, OKC, OK. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in Larry’s name to the local non-profit dearest to him: The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma at RegionalFoodBank.org.