Ivan P. Smith

Remembering Reverend Ivan P. Smith

Rev. Ivan Phillip Smith, age 75, of Lago Vista, Texas, entered into eternal peace at home on June 9, 2022, after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Ivan was born on May 30, 1947, to Arthur Dean Smith and Marian Stewart in Topeka, Kansas. He was the second of four children. He grew up in Topeka graduating from Topeka High School. He moved to Parson, Kansas where he had various jobs. After moving to Gary, Indiana, he worked for Lever Brothers for several years. While in Gary, Ivan accepted his Lord and joined the Open Door Church of God in Christ under the leadership of Elder McBennet. In the late 1970’s, he became a minister and in 1982 he started his own church in Gary.

He married Linda Smith and became the proud Father of three children: a son, Ivan Phillip Smith, Jr. and two daughters, Talycia Anntionette Smith and Monica Yvette Smith.

In 2004, Ivan moved to Austin, Texas. He worked at Durham School Services in Pflugerville driving a school bus. While at Durham School Services, he met his wife, Cynthia Ross, and they were married on December 12, 2010, in Elgin, Texas. On May 31, 2022, Ivan retired after 15 years of service driving a special needs school bus for Round Rock Independent School District.

In 2005, Ivan served faithfully as a minister under the leadership of Capital City District Superintendent Dennis E. Watson at Faith Cathedral Church of God in Christ in Elgin, Texas, for 17 years.

They resided in Lago Vista, Texas until his parting.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his son, Ivan P. Smith, Jr. and his daughter, Talycia Anntionette Smith.

Ivan leaves to cherish his wife, Cynthia Ross Smith of Lago Vista; his daughter, Monica Smith of Houston; four sisters, Melody (Wendell) Brown of Austin and Geneva, Natalie, and Jolice Smith of St. Louis; a brother, Darren Starling of Pflugerville; two daughters, Jeanni (James) Knox of Round Rock and Sarah (Delbert) Cunningham of Manor, Texas; eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren; as well as a host of other family and friends.

A Visitation will be held on Saturday, June 18, 2022 at 10:00 AM at Elgin New Life Baptist Fellowship. A Celebration of Life will follow at 11:00 AM.