Lt. Floyd Melvin Smith

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Lt. Floyd Melvin Smith, 85, of Harwood, Mo., the youngest son of 12 children born to Lee Burr and Hazel Belle (Deems) Smith, was born May 20, 1927, in Blooming Grove, Ohio, and passed from this life on Monday, March 25, 2013, at the Barone Care Center in Nevada, Mo.

Floyd attended school in the Blooming Grove area then entered the U.S. Navy serving our country during World War II. On Dec. 25, 1947, he was united in marriage to Hilda Eileen (Crider) and to their union two sons were born. Hilda and Smitty became acquainted when she passed a note to him while he was working to repair the roof of her parent's home. Together they raised the boys while Floyd worked for 22 years for the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

After his retirement, Floyd and Hilda decided to relocate -- so it was while on a visit to Missouri to visit Ab and Minnie Spencer that they fell in love with the area and decided to make it their home. They bought a home in Harwood and enjoyed many years of hunting and fishing together. Smitty was also an active member of the community, having served on the Harwood City Board and also held the title of Mayor for a time. He was also a longtime member of the Harwood United Methodist Church until its closing. He then regularly attended the Harwood Baptist Church.

Survivors include his two sons and their wives, Rex and Linda Smith of Bolivar, Mo., and Steve and Jerilyn Smith of Findlay, Ohio; one sister, Dorothy Warner of Mt. Gilead, Ohio; five grandchildren, Bryan Rex Smith, Kristy Lynn Patton (J.T.), Heather Dawn Daniels (Stephen), Angela Kristen Fenstermaker (Mark), and Jennifer Susan Hoadley (Ian); four great-grandchildren, Jack Thomas Patton, Keaton Lane Patton, Elise Dawn Fenstermaker, and Parker Daniel Fenstermaker; and nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many friends. Floyd was preceded in death by his parents; 10 siblings; his grandson, Brett Hunter Smith; and his wife, Hilda, who passed away last July.

Funeral services for Lt. Floyd Melvin Smith were held at 10 a.m., Friday, March 29, at the Lewis-Hoagland Funeral Home in Schell City, Mo., with the Revs. J.T. Patton and Bryan R. Smith officiating. Musical selections were "Amazing Grace," "How Great Thou Art," and the "Family Bible." Pallbearers were Bryan R. Smith, Stephen Daniels, Ian Hoadley, Mark Fenstermaker, Jerry Coy, and Kenny Hallam. Interment with military honors followed at the Green Mound Cemetey in Harwood, Mo.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Green Mound Cemetery. Funeral arrangements for Lt. Smith were entrusted to the Lewis-Hoagland Funeral Home in Schell City.