Eldon H. Smith

Eldon H. Smith, 88, of McPherson, Kansas, passed away at 4:45 a.m., Tuesday, May 3rd, 2016 peacefully, at Pleasant View Home, Inman, Kansas. Eldon H. Smith, son of Ellis Harley and Lillian Wilke Smith, was born June 7, 1927, in McPherson and was one of five children born to the Smith family. He attended the Groveland Center Grade School and graduated from McPherson High School in 1945.Eldon became converted and accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and was baptized March 5, 1939 and became a member of the First Christian Church.He served in the US Army in 1953-1955 and spent 1 1/2 years in Panama, serving as a guard for the Panama Canal and also telephone communications.On August 7, 1959 he was married to Lorene Ruth Winter at the Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church, she is a survivor.After discharged from the service Eldon returned to McPherson and engaged in farming and livestock. Later he began purchasing hogs for Doskocil of Hutchinson, Kansas. Eldon also did trucking of cattle and hogs. Then worked at the Warren Building as maintenance and janitorial service for 17 years.They joined the First Baptist Church of McPherson, where they were very active in many organizations. Eldon was a member of the McPherson Lions club over 50 years. He served on Red Cross and Farm Bureau boards.Surviving family members include his loving and devoted wife of over fifty-six years, Lorene R. Smith of McPherson; niece Kristine Froese and her husband Gary and their children and grandchildren, Brenton Froese and his wife Laura and children Ashley and Amber, Jesse Froese and his wife Haley and their son Samuel, Jonathan Froese and Daniel Froese; his sister, Betty Lou Leeson, of Lindrith, New Mexico; nephews and nieces Christopher Crowe and wife Betty of Kansas City, Missouri, Cathy Crowe Kenney of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, Harley Leeson of Lindrith, New Mexico, Faith Ann Pinto and husband Daniel of River Oaks, Texas; sister-in-laws, Carolyn Winter of Fairview, Oklahoma, Cindy Winter, of Omaha, Nebraska, nephews and nieces, Rolland & Jewel Winter, of Denver, Colorado, Rachel Winter of Hillsboro, Kansas, Kevin and Kathy Winter of Sugarland, Texas, Denise Winter of Sugarland, Texas, Sherry and Jim Johnson of Elkhorn, Nebraska, and Karen Winter of Omaha, Nebraska.He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Clifton Smith; sisters, Mary Ann Crowe and Judith K. Smith; brothers-in-laws, Charles C. Crowe, Raymond Leeson, Floyd A. Winter, Virgil K. Winter, sister-in-law, Lillian Winter, nephews, Russell Crowe, Dale Winter, and niece Judy Winter.Visitation will be held from 3 to 7 p.m., with the family present from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at the First Baptist Church, McPherson, Kansas.The funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Wednesday, May 11, 2016 at First Baptist Church, McPherson, Kansas, with Pastor Andy Currier officiating. The final resting place will be at the McPherson Cemetery McPherson, Kansas with military honors presented by members of the American Legion Post 24 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2715 both of McPherson. Memorial contributions may be given to First Baptist Church or Lions Club Sight or Elyria Christian School and they can be sent in care of the Glidden - Ediger Funeral Home; 222 West Euclid Street; McPherson, Kansas 67460.

Eldon H. Smith

May 3, 2016