04/01/2026
Obituary
Verda “Dell” Smith was a beloved great-great grandmother, great-grandmother, grandmother, mother and wife during her incredible 105 years of life. She passed away peacefully in the early hours of Saturday, March 21, 2026. Dell had a long, full and faithful life. She was born to parents Ervin McDonald and Alice McBee McDonald in London, Texas on March 16, 1921.
Dell loved her God, First Baptist Church and loved each of her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. To her each family member is so very special. In 1939, Dell met Milton Otis Smith and they married in the parsonage of the First Baptist Church of Rocksprings, Texas on April 21, 1940. Together, they had Barbara Dell Smith Hocutt and Otis “Carroll” Smith. They were married 57 years until his passing on May 18, 1997. Dell and Milton loved Rocksprings and together they owned and operated several businesses. On May 29, 2004, she married Jesse Otto Aldrich. They were both 84 years of age. They shared 18 years of marriage together until his passing on March 18, 2022 at the age of 100.
In her lifetime she worked very long hours. She helped in the Bluebonnet Grocery (keeping books, stocking shelves plus many other jobs that keep a store in business), maid and cleaning lady in the Balentine Hotel and Mesa Courts which she and Milton owned.
Dell leaves behind a great lineage. She is survived by her son, Carroll Smith (Tooter) of Rocksprings, Texas; daughter, Barbara Hocutt of Rocksprings, Texas; grandchildren, Kit Shadrock (Mark) of St. Hedwig, Texas, Shane Merritt (Renia) of Tarpley, Texas; great-grandchildren, Emily Kurzejeski (Payton), Lane Ramzinski, J’Mae Garcia (James), Jonathan Phillips (Elizabeth), Jacob Powell (Diedre), Jordan Luna (Harold), Brandon Merritt, Dalton Merritt (Brooke) and Randi Bowles (Andrew); Dell leaves behind 14 great-great-grandchildren; step-daughters, Sharon Stephens of Willis, Texas, Cheryl Skordahl (David) of Roger’s, Minnesota, Carol Gurnea of Santa Fe, Texas and Kim Knight of Dickinson, Texas.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Ervin McDonald and Alice McBee McDonald; husbands, Milton Otis Smith (husband of 57 years) and Jesse Aldrich (husband of 18 years); and granddaughter, Myndee Merritt Phillips.
Pallbearers include grandson, Shane Merritt and great-grandsons, Jacob Powell, Jonathan Phillips, Brandon Merritt, Dalton Merritt and Lane Ramzinski.
Honorary Pallbearers include Nick Gallegos, Bill Seale, Joe Baker, Terry Brooks and Dwight Faulk.
A Funeral Service will be held 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at First Baptist Church, Rocksprings, Texas. Burial will follow at the Rocksprings Cemetery. Officiant: Pastor Mark Strebeck
Arrangements are under the personal care of Nelson Funeral Homes, Rocksprings, Texas.
