A funeral Mass for retired Deacon Walton A. Smith will be offered 11 a.m. March 15 at St. Francis Xavier Church, Baltimore. Deacon Smith died March 6. He was 76.
The Northwood resident was ordained in 1977 and assigned to St. Francis Xavier, where he was actively involved in the Legion of Mary, said Father James E. McLinden, S.S.J, pastor of the parish.
“My first recollection of Deacon Smith was walking into St. Francis Xavier and seeing him painting,” Father McLinden said. “This was before I was assigned to the church, but that image always stuck with me. Here was a man who was really devoted to this church and keeping it nice for the people who worship here.”
Before retiring in 2000, Deacon Smith ministered to the sick and homebound throughout the area, assisted with several maintenance projects at St. Francis Xavier and served in the prison ministry at the Baltimore City Detention Center, Father McLinden said.
The deacon’s widow, Mabel Smith, will receive condolences during a viewing at the church from 10:30 to 11 a.m. before the funeral Mass.