WAYNE SMITH
Wayne Smith, 87, died Sunday, November 12, 2006 at his home. Funeral services
will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, November 16, 2006 at the Neodesha First
United Methodist Church with Reverend Kris Brinlee presiding. Family visitation
will be Wednesday evening from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Penwell-Gable Loran
Fawcett Chapel. Friends may visit the chapel beginning at 8:00 a.m., Wednesday.
Wayne H. Smith was born April 21, 1919, to Minnie (Hedrick) and Wayne Smith, Sr.
at Valeda, Kansas. He attended school in Valeda until moving to Neodesha to live
with his aunt and attended Neodesha High School. At the age of 16, he began
working at the W. S. Smith Grain and Feed elevator. In 1942, he enlisted in the
U.S. Army and served in the 195th/793rd Field Artillery until September of 1943.
On November 7, 1943, he married Edna Long at Independence and began working at
the Ordinance Plant in Parsons until moving to Neodesha in July of 1945. Places
of employment in Neodesha include the Standard Oil Refinery, City of Neodesha,
and the Neodesha Housing Authority. He is a member of the Neodesha First United
Methodist Church.
He is survived by his wife, Edna; son, Gary Smith and his wife Debbie; daughter,
Marilyn (Smith) Graham and her husband, Bob; granddaughters, Erin Graham of
Fredonia and Tawny (Smith) White and her husband, Travis of Neodesha; brother,
John Thompson of Hope, Arkansas; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Neodesha First United Methodist
Church, the Neodesha High School Alumni Scholarship Fund or the Harry Hynes
Memorial Hospice. Memorials may be left with the funeral home.