Ellwyn "Bus" E. SMITH

SMITH, BARKER, BARRETT, MAACH, GRANDGENETT, GIBSON, WEEKS, CHRISTENSEN, FRIEDLEY, WEEKS, BUNNELL, JOHNSON, PEARSON, BORK, HESS, ROWLES

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 4/12/2014 at 14:11:30

Ellwyn "Bus" E. Smith

February 22, 1926 --- March 23, 2014

Ellwyn E. Smith, 88 years old, better known as "Bus", formerly of Des Moines, passed away on Sunday, March 23, 2014 in Peoria, AZ. The family will greet friends at a celebration of Bus' life from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 19, at Iles Westover Chapel in Des Moines. Private scattering of his remains will be held at a later date.

Bus was born in Eagle Grove, Iowa to Myrtie Mae and Spencer Barker Smith. He grew up in Eagle Grove and graduated from Eagle Grove High School. Bus was very active in most sports during school including football, basketball and baseball. He signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs before joining the Army during World War II. Bus returned to Eagle Grove after the war where he met and married Marilyn Barrett in 1949. To this union, three children: Lizabeth Jo, Timothy Craig, and Lisa Lynn were born. They made their first home in Eagle Grove, and then moved to Cedar Falls, Iowa, before moving to Norwalk, Iowa in 1967. His second marriage included daughter Melinda Alisa and stepchildren, Randi Mark, Michele Ann, Melissa Annette and Megan Alyson.

After returning from the war, Bus worked as a part-time greens keeper at the Eagle Grove Country Club, where he taught himself to play golf becoming the club champion in 1961. Golf remained his passion throughout his life. His work career included working for various home builders as construction superintendent as well as retiring from the city of Des Moines working in the Engineering Construction and Support Department.

He is survived and lovingly remembered by his children, Liz (Denny) Maach, Tim Smith and Melinda (Todd) Pearson; stepchildren, Randi (Karen) Smith, Michele (Dale) Grandgenett, Melissa (Dennis) Gibson and Megan (Brian) Weeks; sister, Mary Ellen Christensen; 17 grandchildren, Tony (Amber) Friedley, Shannon Johnson, Rachel (Kyle Bunnell) Johnson, Matt Rowles, Blake Smith, Kyler, Brayden and Parker Pearson, Cole and Cade Grandgenett, Dillon Smith, Vance, Hayes, Eden and Jenner Gibson, and Hudson and Harper Weeks; and five great-grandchildren, Hailey Friedley, Christopher Johnson, Donovan Bork, and Mia and Jaxon Bunnell. Bus was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Spencer Smith; daughter, Lisa Lynn Hess; and son-in-law, Joel Hess. The family has respectfully requested that any memorial contributions be made in Bus Smith's name to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa.

ILES WESTOVER CHAPEL
http://www.ilesfuneralhomes.com/obituary/Ellwyn-Bus-E.-Smith/Peoria-AZ/1370514