Bernard F. Smith, 88, of Princeton, formerly of Ipava and Shell Knob, Mo., died at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, 1998, at Colonial Hall Nursing Home.
He was born Jan. 3, 1910, in Pleasant Township, Fulton County, a son of Frank and Laura Bolton Smith. He married Elizabeth Whitten on Nov. 28, 1936, in Peoria. She survives.
Also surviving are four daughters, Carol Jeanne Hanna of Princeton, Mrs. Kenneth (Maggie) Bohn of Grand Rapids, Mich., Mrs. Robert (Ann) Carter of Fountain Hills, Ariz., and Mrs. David (Kay) Nippa of Lake St. Louis, Mo.; one sister, Caroline Mercer of Astoria; 13 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
One infant brother, one sister and one grandson preceded him in death.
He was a heavy equipment operator and worked for Caterpillar Inc. in Peoria during the 1940s. He was Pleasant Township Road Commissioner. He last worked for Illinois Power Co. at the Havana and Hennepin Power Stations for 22 years, retiring in 1973. He was Worthy Patron of Order of the Eastern Star in Ipava. He was a 60-year member of the Masons, serving as Worshipful Master of Ipava Masonic Lodge 213. He was a charter member of Central Crossing Lodge 674 in Shell Knob. He served as president of the Shell Knob Lions Club and as deputy district governor for the State of Missouri Lions Club.
Memorial services were held Monday at Norberg Memorial Home with Rev. Dr. Jay Carr officiating. A Masonic service was held Monday at the funeral home. Cremation rites have been accorded. Burial of ashes was in Elm Lawn Memorial Park.
Memorials may be made to a local Lions Club or to the National Kidney Foundation.
From the Peoria Journal Star.
Current Obituaries in the Astoria South Fulton Argus