Kenneth R. Smith

May 28, 1917 - March 26, 1998

SOUTH BEND — Kenneth R. Smith, 80, of Rosemary Lane, South Bend, Ind., died at 3:53 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, in St. Joseph Medical Center, South Bend. He was born on May 26, 1917, in North Liberty, Ind., to Harry and Pearl (Wiseman) Smith, who preceded him in death. He was a lifelong area resident.

On Dec. 23, 1939, in South Bend, he married Ethel Ruby Filley, who died on Sept. 27, 1980. Then, on Sept. 11, 1982, he married Dorothy Maxine Ponto, who died on Feb. 26, 1991. He was also preceded in death by a son, Allen R. Smith on Feb. 2, 1981; a sister, Edith Durfee; and by a brother, Wayne Smith.

He is survived by a daughter, Judith Wieger, and her husband Joseph of South Bend; three step-daughters, Sherry Hans of Edwardsburg, Mich., Saundra Naperialski of Elkhart, Ind., and Diana Yoder of South Bend; four grandchildren, Diana Inman and her husband David of Mishawaka, Ind., Deborah Enright and her husband Russell of Gardner, Kansas, Victor Smith and his wife Tina of Osceola, Ind., and Michelle L. Mandeville of South Bend; nine great-grandchildren; a sister, Vada DeWilde of South Bend; and by three brothers, Dale Smith of South Bend, Gene Smith of New Carlisle, Ind., and Ray Smith of Granger, Ind.

Mr. Smith retired from the Torrington Company as a bearing grinder in 1982 after 25 years of service. He was a graduate of Riley High School and was recently employed by Campbell Ford. He enjoyed life and his grandkids. He loved all sorts of sports, and playing euchre.

Services will be at 10 a.m. on Monday, March 30, in the Welsheimer Funeral Home North, 17033 Cleveland Road. Rev. Larry Baker of the First Brethren Church, South Bend, will conduct services. Friends may call from 2 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 29, in the funeral home. Burial will be in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Osceola.

Kenneth R. Smith lived a long, hard and full life, and never lost his patience. 

Source: Newspapers.com

11/17/2023 EJS