WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Thurmon Smith, age 68, of Sturgis, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and brother, passed on to his heavenly father Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2011, at Parkview LaGrange Hospital in LaGrange, Ind.
He was born Feb. 15, 1943, in Sayersville, Ky., a son of Joseph and Gertrude (Beverly) Smith.
Thurmon had resided in Sturgis since 1967. On March 8, 1964, he married Shirley Likes in LaGrange.
He retired from Grumman Olson in Sturgis following 43 years of dedicated employment.
Thurmon was proud to have served his country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War earning the rank of SP4. During his service he was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Expert Badge (Rifle) and the Combat Infantry Badge.
He was a life member of Jack Johnston Chapter #88 Disabled American Veterans and enjoyed fishing and time spent with his family.
Thurmon is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Shirley; two daughters, Jennifer (Tony) Jones of Kendallville, Ind., and Melissa (Tim) Kovak of Troy; three sons, David (Helen Marioni) Smith of Sturgis, Dennis (Joyce Green) Smith of Sturgis and Scott (Patty) Smith of Sturgis; eight grandchildren, Kyle Smith, Brittany Smith, Andrea Smith, Bryant Smith, Kayla Garison, Austin Smith, Samantha Smith and Jacob Shears; five great-grandchildren, Bryce, Mayson, Curtis, Naomi and Sophie, two sisters, Meletha Fields of Kentucky and Dorothy Dettrow of Ohio; four brothers, Herman Smith of Indiana, Roy Smith of Indiana, Gary Smith of Ohio and Larry Smith of Indiana; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three grandchildren, Maximus Sweatt, Alexander Sweatt and Joshua Smith; and two brothers, Sherman Smith and Aaron Smith.
The family will receive friends from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Friday at Hackman Family Funeral Homes —Hackman Chapel, 114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis.
Funeral services celebrating the life of Thurmon Smith will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Pastor Ken Beverly of the Church of the True God in South Milford, Ind., will officiate. A graveside committal will follow the service at Ontario Cemetery in Ontario, Ind. Full military honors will be conferred by Captain John J. Kelley Post #1355 VFW and the U.S. Army Honor Guard.
The family suggests those wishing to make a memorial donation in Mr. Smith’s memory consider the American Cancer Society, 1400 West Milham, Kalamazoo, MI 49024, the American Heart Association, 3816 Paysphere Circle, Chicago, IL 60674 or the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312.
His obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhome.com, where personal messages of support may be left for the family.
