Smiley, Wilford S. 1879-1960

SMILEY, DUNN, OBRIEN, SIEBERT, FALLIN

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 7/24/2012 at 20:12:34

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; April 23, 1960

PROMINENT CITIZEN WILFORD S. SMILEY DIES SATURDAY

Former postmaster Wilford S. Smiley, 80, died late Saturday evening at a local hospital after an illness of two weeks.

Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Smith Funeral Home with the Rev. Leland W. Mann and the Rev. Royal J. Montgomery officiating. Flower bearers will be Mrs. Wes Cratty and Mrs. James George.

Pallbearers will be L.W. Brock, Carl Child, James George, A.B. Hamilton, Croft Pilgrim and Robert Smiley. Interment will be in Hazelwood cemetery.

He was the son of William and Mary Dunn Smiley and was born in Malcom on Sept. 29th, 1879. He attended the local rural schools near his home and graduated from Brooklyn high school. Mr. Smiley graduated from Grinnell College and obtained his Master's Degree from the University of Iowa and did graduate work at the University of Chicago.

On August 4th, 1915, he was united in marriage with Edith F. O'Brien in Iowa City. To this union were born three children: Dr.George W. Smiley of Ottumwa, Francis W. Smiley of Lake Bluff, Ill., and Mrs. Lloyd (Barbara) Siebert of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.

Mr. Smiley served as a school superintendent for several years and then moved his family to Grinnell to educate the children at Grinnell College. He organized the Grinnell Federal Savings and Loan and served as its first secretary. In 1936 he was appointed postmaster at the Grinnell post office and served until retirement in 1951.

He was a member of the Congregational church and served as chairman of the board of deacons with the church. He was also a member of the Masonic lodge, a charter member of the Grinnell Rotary Club, and a member of Phi Delta Kappa, honorary education fraternity.

Mr. and Mrs. Smiley had made their home at the Mayflower Home the past few years.

He is survived by his wife, three children and seven grandchildren; two brothers, Dr. William Smiley of Chicago, Ill., and Matt Smiley of Dallas Center; and two sisters, Mrs. R.J. Fallin of St. Petersburg, Fla.; and Miss Leona Smiley of Charles City.