Obituary of Gerald Joseph Smith

Gerald Joseph Smith, age 88, died at Wichita County Health Center on November 21, 2018 in Leoti, Kansas. He was born on June 24, 1930 in Okarche, Oklahoma to Anton Smith and Marie (Wittrock) Smith. 

He moved to Kansas in 1951 and married Imelda J. Baker at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Marienthal on June 24, 1953. He was a lifelong farmer and among the first to grow corn in Wichita County. Gerald served on the St. Mary’s Church parish council for 10 years and was a lifetime member of the Catholic Order of Foresters. He served on the board of directors of the Scott Coop for 10 years. He was a US Army veteran, serving from 1954 to 1956 and was stationed in Germany during the Korean War. His discharge rank was SP3 (T). 

Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Imelda; three sons, Earl (Deb) Smith of Marienthal, Don (Liz) Smith of Scott City and Ernie (Christi) Smith of Scott City; and three daughters Sharry (Clem) Nelson of Johnson, Kathy (Dale) Owings of Lawrence and Ruth (Bill) Hovey of Olathe; a sister, Alice Stroud of Okarche, Oklahoma; 18 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Dorothy Ketterer of Lake St. Louis, Missouri; a brother, Sylvester Smith of Oklahoma City and an infant son, Joseph. 

Visitation will be at Price and Son’s Funeral Home in Leoti, KS on Saturday, November 24 from 1-4 pm and Sunday, November 25 from 2-4 with the family present. A Vigil service will be held at 5 pm at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Marienthal. Funeral services will be at 10 am, Monday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Marienthal.  Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to St. Mary’s Catholic Church at 210 N. 2nd, Marienthal, KS 67863.