Duane F. Smith
August 17, 1923 ~ May 2, 2013
Duane Frederick Smith, 89, of Indianapolis, formerly Martinsville, died May 2, 2013, in Millers Merry Manor. He was born August 17, 1923, in St. Anthony, Idaho, to the late Joseph and Margaret (Stimpson) Smith.
Duane grew up with 12 siblings. He was drafted to war just before finishing high school. Duane proudly served in the United States Navy and Marine Corps during WWII and the Korean War. He was a lifetime member of the VFW and American Legion, United Auto Workers. Duane worked for 42 years for General Motors, retiring March 1, 1993. His hobbies included wood working, trains, and gardening.
Along with his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy J. (Smith) Smith, to whom he was united in marriage on February 12, 1949; and first born son, Michael Duane Smith in 1950.
2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord..
1Thessalonians 4;14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in JESUS will God bring with him…
Survivors include his sons, Michael D. Smith (Joyce) of Martinsville and Jeffrey Allen Smith (Patty) of Indianapolis; daughters, Roberta Woodall of Indianapolis, Melody Ziehl (Brian) of Martinsville, and Cindy Arnett of Indianapolis; 12 grandchildren; 39 great grandchildren; and many siblings residing out West.
A memorial service with military honors will be held at 5pm, Tuesday, May 7, 2013, in the Carlisle - Branson Funeral Service & Crematory, Mooresville, with calling there from 3p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Mooresville VFW Post 1111, 411 S. Indiana Street, Mooresville. Visit www.carlislebranson.com to share a favorite memory or to sign the online guest registry.
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ON BEHALF OF THE COMRADES AND SISTERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INDIANA YOU HAVE OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES FOR THE LOSS OF YOUR LOVED ONE AND OUR DEPARTED COMRADE.OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU ALL.SINCERELY VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF INDIANA STATE CHAPLAIN KEISTON R.HOLLOWAY
Thank you for your kind words!!
Grandpa Duane you have only been gone for 3 days and not a day has gone by with out you going through my head.. you will be deeply missed. The day after you died I had to sing ‘The holes in the floor of heaven’ it was the hardest thing I have ever had to do knowing you left us the night before. After I was called and told you passed all I could think about is all the memories I had with you. Yes we had our differences but you was THE GREATEST MAN ALIVE!I was your first great grand daughter. I’m very thankful for everything you done and gave for me. I still cant believe you are gone. Just wish you were here till I turned 18. I love you and I will always think about you EVERYDAY… REST WITH LOVE GRANDPA DUANE 8/17/1923 till 5/2/2013
i love you always and forever!
to my father in law you will be missed so much not only was you a great father in law you were also a great dad a grandfather and a greatgrandfather. you have made a impact on all of our lives you will always live in our hearts. you are with mom now .both of you are angels and with god you will guide us as we live our lives dad we love you and mom.
For ; Duane had committed his Spirit unto the Lord and is now with ‘JESUS’. What more could a person want??He was not only my father-in-law,but my ‘Friend.’!! And, I have very few…May the Lord Bless him Always…Brian….
I am so blessed to have had you as my grandpa. You were an amazing, hard working, loving, caring man. You will be deeply missed. My heart hurts so bad because I don’t want to say goodbye… however I am so happy that you have been reunited with grandma and aren’t laying here in pain any longer. I have so many memories that I will continue to cherish all of my days. When I was a little girl and played baseball you and grandma never missed a game. You were my biggest fans. You didn’t care if we won or lost you would take the entire team to DQ for ice cream. The backs of our shirts even said ‘Grandma and Grandpa’s Team’. Weekend trips to Greenfield, teaching me how to drive the golf-cart, ice cream runs, grandmas rhubarb plants that you planted extras just for me, helping me pick berries off the trees, POW WOWS, festivals… and so many more, I could go on and on… You were the ideal grandpa, and I am so blessed that you were mine. Give grandma big hugs… RIP grandpa, you deserve it…. until we meet again… love you to the stars and back!! Gone but NEVER forgotten… you are my newest angel… ily, Jessie