|
Henry Smith, WWII tech. sgt.
By EPHRATA REVIEW
Ephrata Review
Published: Apr 30, 2008 1:02 PM EST
MOUNT JOY - Henry S. Smith, 89, of 4441 Green Park Drive, Mount Joy, formerly of the
Manheim area, was called home to be with his Lord on Wednesday, April 23,
2008 at Lancaster General Hospital on his 89th birthday.
He passed
quietly and peacefully with his family by his side after struggling with an
extended illness. Born in Denver, he was the son of the late Samuel Z. and
Mary Ellen Whitman Smith. He was the husband of Grace Naomi Myer Smith for
61 years on Sept. 7.
Henry and his siblings experienced the death
of their father at an early age. After living at an orphanage until the age
of 12, Henry went to live with the Ephraim Geib family and learned to work
with his hands and learned to farm. Later, he and his wife owned their own
farm in Mastersonville. During World War II, he served as a technical
sergeant in the United States Army Air Corps in the South Pacific. He was
discharged with distinction and honors.
He was a member of Chiques
Church of the Brethren. In his earlier years, he served the church as a
deacon, sang in the men's chorus, and taught Sunday school. He was
employed as a mechanic by Sico Oil Company in Mount Joy. He was a member of
the Young Farmers Association of Manheim. His determination to learn and
his passion for reading resulted in Henry being a self-educated man.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Anna
Mary, wife of Richard Thompson of Leola, and Esther, wife of Edward Keyser
of Mount Joy; three sons, Henry Smith of Rockford, Ill., John Smith and
James Smith, both of Ephrata; 13 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren;
five sisters, Edith Hollinger of Lititz, Kathryn Musser of Carlisle, Olive
Harnish and Blanche "Kitty" Knipple, both of Lancaster, and Ida
Wade of Florida; and a brother, Warren Smith of Kennett Square. He was
preceded in death by two grandchildren, one great grandson, a brother, Paul
Smith, and a sister, Coreta Hollinger.
A funeral service was held on
Saturday, April 26, 2008 at Chiques Church of the Brethren, 4045 Sunnyside
Road, Manheim, with Pastors J. Becker Ginder and Ronald Strickler
officiating. Interment will be in Mastersonville Cemetery. Friends called
the church on Friday evening and on Saturday morning until the time of the
service.
If desired, contributions may be made to Chiques Church of
the Brethren Benevolent Fund.
For directions and additional
information, visit www.spencefuneralservices.com
|
