Wilbur Cornelius Smoot

Wilbur Cornelius Smoot, 94, lifelong resident of High Point, passed away Thursday, February 29, 2024, at Hospice Home at High Point in High Point, NC. He was kind, friendly, humble, and had a great memory.

Born August 16, 1929, in High Point, North Carolina, he was the youngest child of the late George Welborn Smoot and the late Frances Katherine McDowell Smoot. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Carl Smoot, Gaston Smoot, and Alvas Smoot, his sister, Evelyn Smoot McKeel, and his loving wife of seventy-two years, Martha Lorraine Lanham Smoot.

Wilbur met his wife, Martha Smoot, when he was in high school. Throughout his life, he said that he knew that Martha would be the perfect wife for him, and she was – he felt that way the day he first saw her and every day since.

They built a life and a family together in High Point, where he worked for the City of High Point for 40 years, on both the High Point Police Department and in the High Point City Water Department. He proudly served in the North Carolina Army National Guard. He was a talented craftsman and gardener with a green thumb for growing beautiful and bountiful vegetable gardens, fruit trees, and beds of lovely flowers filled with hosta, phlox, herbs, and iris. He and Martha enjoyed working together on a variety of hobbies and shared their talents with family and the community.

He was deeply proud of their son Norbert and daughter Amber, who share his love for remembering and sharing funny stories and for gardening and being outdoors. Over the years, he welcomed grandchildren and great-grandchildren into his arms, playing Go Fish, teaching them the beauty of the garden, and telling them stories about when their parents were young. Attentive to each one, he was interested in their lives and eager to hear their stories. He often gave them candy and cookies, reminding them to have fun, saying “…you’re only little for a little while”.

He is survived by their son, Norbert Smoot and wife Susan of Trinity; daughter, Amber Smoot Kelley and husband Mark of High Point; grandchildren, Emily Smoot Smith and husband Robert of Winston-Salem, Zoe Kelley Kreipe and husband Nolan of St. Mary’s, Georgia, Aidan Kobe Kelley, Campbell Quinn Kelley; great-grandchildren, Charlotte Wilson Smith, and Elizabeth Hamilton Smith. He loved us all well and there was no better place than in his fold.

A celebration of life will be held by the family at a later date. He will be entombed in the mausoleum crypt with Martha in the historic Oakwood Cemetery in High Point, NC.

The family is grateful for the care and compassion provided by Hospice Home at High Point and have designated them for memorial contributions in Wilbur’s name to: Hospice Home at High Point, 1803 Westchester Drive, High Point, NC 27262 or to a charity of your choice.

Wright Funerals-Cremations, High Point is in charge of arrangements