SMITH, Darwin Richard 1921-2016

SMITH, BURBRIDGE, KERR

Posted By: K.L. Kittleson
Date: 8/18/2016 at 19:17:25

Obituary for Darwin R Smith

Darwin R. Smith, age 94, of Nashua, Iowa, died Saturday, January 30, 2016, at Crestview Nursing & Rehabilitation in Webster City, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday February 5, 2016, at Hugeback Johnson Funeral Home – Olson Chapel in Nashua with Rev. John Tunnicliff presiding.

Interment will be held in Oak Hill Cemetery, Nashua.

Friends may greet the family 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. Friday February 5, 2016, at Hugeback Johnson Funeral Home – Olson Chapel in Nashua.

Darwin Richard Smith was born December 27, 1921, in rural Butler County, Iowa, the son of Carl and Maude (Burbridge) Smith. He attended country schools during his elementary years, and graduated from Frederika High School in 1940. Where he was a participant in baseball and basketball. Darwin was employed as a hired hand for neighboring farmers and helped at home on the family farm. Darwin met Vivian Kerr at the Iowa State Fair in line for an amusement ride. The couple was married February 12, 1947, at The Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. To this union two daughters, Ardis, and Doris were born.

Darwin was employed at Schueth Ace Hardware in New Hampton, Iowa, working for the company for several years. He then began working for Kennedy Electric in New Hampton, where he became an Electrician. Darwin decided to pursue a job at Oliver Tractor in Charles City. He retired from the then renamed White Farm as an Inspector in 1983.

Darwin loved camping and would take his family camping almost every weekend the weather permitted them to go. They would stay in a camper that he constructed himself from the ground up. He enjoyed woodworking, and was a very handyman building the family home in 1949 where his children grew up. He was good at fixing just about anything, and could always be found tinkering with something. Darwin was a very selfless person always willing to drop what he was doing to help someone else in need.

Darwin is survived by two daughters, Ardis Good of Richardson, Texas, Doris (Robert) Everhard of Waukee, Iowa; granddaughter, Angela Jessen; great-granddaughter Chloe Jessen.

He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Vivian Smith; three brothers, Norman Smith, Carl Smith Jr., and Lavane Smith; two sisters, Leatrice Einck, Marva Smith.

Source: Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home website