Forrest J. "Smitty" Smith

HOFFROGGE, MARSH, MORGAN, SMITH, WATSON

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 6/7/2006 at 19:43:04

Earlham Library Obituary Collection
Earlham, Iowa
March 2002

Forrest John "Smitty" Smith, 80, of Earlham died of congestive heart failure March 21, 2002, at the CLC Care Center in Granger. Funeral services were held Saturday, March 23, at the Earlham School Gymnasium with Pastor Linda Burnett officiating. Burial was at Earlham Cemetery with military rites performed by Earlham American Legion Post 158.

"Smitty" Smith was born Sept. 16, 1921, to Lafferia and Laura Etta (Morgan) Smith of rural Decatur, Ill. He attended the Moweaqua, Ill. schools and following graduation, joined the CCC Camps as a baker. He later enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he was assigned aboard the USS Lexington, which was anchored in port at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. He was severely injured when his ship sank and later was awarded the Purple Heart for his service to his country. On March 25, 1945, he married Bessie Hoffrogge. Smitty had worked as a brakeman for the Wabash Railroad for two years as well as the AE Staley Food Company. In 1948, he and his wife moved to Earlham where he briefly farmed and worked in the quarries. In 1952, he began working as a custodian for the Earlham School District, retiring after 31 years of service.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and a sister.

He is survived by his wife, Bessie, of Earlham; a son, Frank Smith (wife Sandi) of Earlham; two daughters, Donna Watson (husband Charlie) of Waukee and Gretchen Marsh (husband Gene) of Earlham; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

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