SMITH, George F. 1878-1944

SMITH, DILLY

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/7/2016 at 09:11:35

George F. Smith Grundy Druggist Dies Suddenly

End Comes Without Warning Monday Afternoon While He Was Seated Behind Steering Wheel Of His Car

George F. Smith, who was engaged in business in the Corner Drug Store in Grundy Center during the past 22 years, died suddenly about 2:30 Monday afternoon while he was seated behind the steering wheel of his car in the yard at his home. Death was due to a heart attack which came without warning. He left the store shortly before 2:30 to get his car to do an errand for his wife. He was unable to get the car into his garage the night before because of the icy condition of the driveway and he drove the car in the yard alongside of his house.

Miss Ruth Modlin, who is employed at the Smith home, said that Mr. Smith came into the house for a moment and told her that he had come for the car. A little later Miss Modlin heard the motor of the car in operation, and when the car remained there she went out to investigate and found Mr. Smith's head bent over the steering wheel with one foot in the car door. She called a doctor who came at once. The doctor's belief is that death was instantaneous. He was 66 years old on the 11th of last September.

Spent Early Life in Eldora
Mr. Smith spent the early part of his life in Eldora, where he was born and where he attended school. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Smith, early residents of Hardin county. After finishing high school he attended the Highland Park pharmacy school. After he completed his course there he received a position in a drugstore at State Center where he remained a few years. After that he returned to Eldora where he went into the drug business. He disposed of his store at Eldora twenty-two years ago and shortly thereafter entered into partnership with W. R. Halden at Grundy Center under the firm name of Halden & Smith. They purchased the drugstore on the corner that had been owned and operated by W. C. Ladage. After eight years the firm of Halden & Smith dissolved, with Mr. Smith taking over the interest of his partner and continuing the business with the assistance of his wife.

Three years after coming to Grundy Center, George Smith and Cora Dilly were married and they have since lived in the same home.

Surviving are the widow, one son, Kempton Smith, from a previous marriage, and one grandchild. Other survivors are one brother Ralph Smith from Eldora, and two sisters, Mrs. Herb Hough and Gay Smith, both of Morrison, Ill.

The son is coming by plane from California and he will arrive in Des Moines today.

Funeral Services Friday
Funeral services will be held at the Coffman funeral home at 2:30 Friday afternoon. Burial will be in the Grundy Center cemetery. Rev. H. H. Palmer, pastor of the Grundy Center Methodist church, will officiate at the funeral service.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 7 December 1944, pg 1