Waldo Weston Smith, 91, of Wyaconda, died Thursday, October 23, 2014 at Keokuk Area Hospital.
He was born the son of William H. and Ethel Maye Carter-Smith on February 1, 1923 in Scotland County, Missouri.
Waldo was a life-long farmer of Scotland and Clark Counties, only leaving to join the service. He graduated from Granger High School and completed electrical school in Chicago.
He served in the Army of the United States during World War II, earning five bronze stars, a European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon, Victory Ribbon, four overseas bars and a Good Conduct Medal. Waldo fought in the European Theater, seeing action from Normandy in Northern France to the Central Rhineland in Germany. He was at the Ardennes Forest for the Battle of the Bulge during the final German offensive in the winter of 1944.
Following the war, Waldo returned to Missouri. He married the former Bernice “Lorene” Burrus at the Memphis United Methodist Church. She preceded him in death on December 10, 1980.
Waldo enjoyed working on Homelite Chainsaws and watching the Hereford baby calves in the spring. He was a member of the Granger United Methodist Church and served on the Grange School Board for many years.
He enjoyed his family and listening to everyone’s stories.
He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, and a brother, Vincent V. Smith.
He is survived by his son, Weston Smith and Rhonda of Wyaconda; daughter, Sheryl Templeton and husband Richard of Arbela; a sister, Willa Mae Gooden of Downing; grandchildren, Tori and husband Chase Sorenson and Roni Smith, all of Kansas City, MO; three step grandchildren, Kellie and husband Jimmy Dixon of Bakersfield, CA, Cindy and husband Marcus Nerad of Arbela, and Chuck and wife Amy Templeton of Bakersfield; eight step great grandchildren; two step great great grandchildren; several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, October 25 at the Gerth Funeral Chapel in Memphis with Nate Frazee, pastor of the Granger United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in the Granger Cemetery with military rites performed by the Wallace W. Gillespie Memorial V.F.W. Post #4958 of Memphis.
Visitation is prior to the service on Saturday, from 1-2 p.m., at the Gerth Funeral Home.
Memorials are suggested to the Granger United Methodist Church or the Granger Cemetery and may be left at or mailed to Gerth Funeral Service.
3 comments
So sorry for your loss. Thoughts and prayers with you and yours.
It was an honor to care for your family during Waldo’s hospitalization. You served as an excellent example of integrity, love, maturity and selflessness.
I trust that your faith will carry you through these tough days to come. Know that you remain in our prayers.
I graduated from high school with Willa Mae and remember her brother. Our prayers are with the family.
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