FAIRMONT, W.Va. — The longtime Sergeant-at-Arms for the West Virginia House of Delegates will be laid to rest on Saturday in his native Marion County. Oce Smith died Tuesday at the age of 76.
A funeral service for Smith will be held on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Ford Funeral Home in Fairmont with a graveside service to follow at Monumental Cemetery.
Smith was a graduate of the Barrackville High School and a graduate of Fairmont State College. He got his start in politics when he served as a page in the state House of Delegates and went on to work on Capitol Hill for U.S. Senator Matthew Neely and U.S. Senator Jennings Randolph.
Smith first became Sergeant-at-Arms for the West Virginia House of Delegates on Jan. 31, 1967 and held that position for more than four decades. During that time, he served with 12 governors, 13 House speakers and 10 Senate presidents.
In 2012, Smith was named Sergeant-at-Arms Emeritus when he ended his service in that role after 45 years.
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin called for all state flags on the grounds of the State Capitol Complex and flags at all state-owned facilities in Marion County to be displayed at half-staff from dawn to dusk on Saturday as tribute to Smith.