Paul Goodwin Smith passed into the loving hands of our Lord Friday January
6th 2006 after a courageous battle with cancer. Paul was born in Victory
Township on October 8th 1925 to Orton Aurlius Smith and Teckla Johanna Olive
Larson.
He was named after Paul in the Bible by his Aunt Minnie Frick. Paul attended
Diamond School and as a youth worked on his
family's farm, in his own words
"I was born in the Township of Victory in 1925 and
worked through the depression. I helped Mom and Dad, and planted the crops, I
helped Dad with the animals, until Uncle Sam came calling and I was drafted in
December of 1943. So I went off the farm and onto a ship. The Navy placed me on
the USS
LSM 134 and I went to the South Pacific to fight. Three years passed (it was
January 1946) and I came home from the service.
I was able to buy a tractor and thought it was time to settle down."
Paul was a member at the VFW, volunteered at the Senior Center, enjoyed Fishing,
Playing cards, and pool at the Senior Center and had many friends and family who
will greatly miss his love, laugh and sense of humor.
He was married to Marilyn Grace Shue on Oct 9, 1948, and they had 5 children.
In 1955 he went to work for Great Lakes Casting Company where he worked for 32
years, retiring in 1987 and honored as an Iron
Master.
Paul was married on October 15th 1976 to Donna Ellen Shaw Petersen; she was the
love of his life, friend, companion and
caregiver. He was a member of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Ludington.
He was preceded in death by his parents Orton and Teckla Smith, 2 brothers, Otis
Cornelius Smith and Harold Albert Smith, 1
sister, Marie Strader, grandson Michael Paul Smith, and his friend and Father in
Law Earl Shaw.
Paul is survived by His Loving wife Donna of 29 years, 5 children, Donald Paul
(Vicki) Smith of Kalamazoo, Janice Marie (Ed) Quinn of Scottville, Beverly Helen
(Scott) Hooker of Big Rapids, Joanne Grace(John) Bromley of Ludington, Larry
Goodwin(Lynn) Smith of Grand Rapids, 3 step children David (Sherry) Petersen of
Ludington, Diane (Russell) Sheren of Ludington and
Daryl Petersen of Lake Havasu, Arizona. 3 brothers, Giles Orton
Smith,Francis Alvin Smith, Charles Leroy Smith, and 1 sister, Iva Mae
Figgins, 23 Grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren
and many cousins and nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held at Dorrell Funeral Home in Ludington Monday January 9th
2006 from 2 to 4 PM and 7 to 9 PM. Funeral
Services will be officiated by Pastor Leslie Lew and held at Dorrell Funeral
Home on Tuesday January 10th at noon. Afterwards a processional will escort
Paul to the Chapel at Lakeview Cemetery where the
service will conclude with full Military honors.