The Rev. Kyle Newton Smith, Methodist minister

The Rev. Kyle Newton Smith, 95, of Laurel, passed away Monday, March 26, 2018. He was born in Mt. Airy, N.C., July 12, 1922, to the late William and Hallie Smith.

After proudly serving in WW II he returned to his home in Mt. Airy. There he married Margaret Poore in 1946, began his work with the postal service, and started a family. He experienced a clear call to the ministry and entered High Point College where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1956. Already having served student pastorates in the Methodist Church, he was ordained a deacon that same year.

After completing a master of divinity degree from the Wesley Theological Seminary, he became ordained as an elder in the Western North Carolina Conference of the Methodist Church in 1959. He served several churches in North Carolina before moving to Greensboro, Md., where he continued his ministry in the Peninsula/Delaware Conference of the United Methodist Church. His faithful commitment to pastoral ministry led him to additional pastorates in Oxford and Trappe Md., and in Milford, Wilmington and Harrington.

After retiring from the ministry in 1986, he moved to Laurel, where he continued to be active in the Peninsula/Delaware Conference. In his retirement he deepened his love for gardening and carpentry, and especially enjoyed tending his grape vines, and making beautiful pieces of furniture for his home and for his children and grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his brother William Martin Smith II.
He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Margaret; his two daughters, Miriam and her husband the Rev. Charles Maloney of Virginia, and Rebecca and her husband the Rev. Wayne Grier of Delaware; six grandchildren, Heather Maloney and her husband Corey Silverman of Florida, Jason Maloney and his wife Amy of Virginia, Erin Grier of Delaware, Joel Grier and his fiancee Kayla Kimball of Maine, Paul Maloney and his wife Jenny of Virginia, and Katherine Maloney of Virginia; three great-grandchildren, Liam Charles Wright Maloney of Virginia, Ella Mae Maloney Silverman and Mylo Maloney Silverman, both of Florida. He is also survived by his brother James Pete Smith of North Carolina.
A funeral service will be held at Calvary United Methodist Church in Milford Delaware Monday, April 2, at noon, visitation with family beginning at 11 a.m. Interment will follow the service at Barratt's Chapel Cemetery.