Hershel G. Smith

March 5, 2012

Hershel G. Smith
Feb. 7, 1938-March 1, 2012
GRANGER — Hershel G. Smith, 74, of Granger, passed away at 1 a.m. Thursday, March 1, 2012 at Hospice House, South Bend. He was born Feb. 7, 1938 in Riverton, Ala. to George and Ruth (Sharp) Smith. Oct. 15, 1972 in Plymouth, he married Leotta K. Atkins.
Mr. Smith is survived by his wife of 39 years, Leotta K. Smith; three daughters, Dawn (Dave) Carpenter of Bremen, Lisa (Adam) Parker of Granger and Dina (Roger) Callahan of Dowagiac, Mich.; 10 grandchildren, Ashley Carpenter, Ryan Carpenter, Nicole (Ed) Short, Amanda (Jake) McCord, Jake Parker, Hannah Parker, Rebeccah Jones, Austin Jones, Caleb Jones and Rachel Callahan; one great-granddaughter, Willow Short and one due in May; four sisters, Catherine (Roy)Taylor of Lakeville, Mary McGriff of California, Janice Berger of Plymouth and Faith (John) Collier of California and two brothers, George (Linda) Smith of LaPaz, and Jim (Pam) Smith of LaPaz. He is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Barbara Smith of Rhode Island and Karen Smith of Bremen. He was preceded in death by mother, Ruth (Sharp) Smith; father, George Smith; and sister, Elizabeth Smith and two brothers, Bobby G. Smith and Joel Smith.
Mr. Smith served his country honorably in the United States Navy for 20 years. He was employed for 14 years at Bendix Corp, for 11 years at AP Parts in Granger and retired from security at Allied Barton in May 2011.
He was a man of many interests, including fishing with his brothers, and best friend. As well as working in his yard, he loved the holidays. Most of all he loved his family and friends and he never met a stranger. Hershel had a way of making people laugh and he will be missed deeply. He also loved going to breakfast with his best friend Jerry Bell. Hershel fought this battle with cancer never complaining or feeling sorry for himself. He was someone to look up to; we should all hope to be half as strong. A man who fought to the end.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, March 5, 2012 in the Palmer Funeral Home-Guisinger Chapel, 3718 S. Michigan St. South Bend. Military graveside services will follow in Fair Cemetery, North Liberty. Friends may visit with the family from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home and one hour prior to the services Monday.
Contributions in memory of Herschel G. Smith may be offered to Hospice House, 4220 Edison Lakes Parkway, Ste 210, Mishawaka, IN 46545 or River Bend Cancer Society, 919 E. Jefferson Blvd. South Bend, IN 46617. Online condolences may be sent to www.palmerfuneralhomes.com [1].