Walter W. Smith

Walter Smith, 95, of Beal City, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2010, at the Isabella County Medical Care Facility. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 23, at St. Joseph The Worker Church in Beal City with Father Patrick Jankowiak presiding. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Charles R. Lux Family Funeral Home on Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. with the Vigil beginning at 7 p.m. Visitation continues at the church on Thursday one hour prior to Mass. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph The Worker School or Isabella County Medical Care Facility. Envelopes are available at the funeral home. Walter was born Aug. 4, 1915, in Beal City, the son of the late Joseph F. and Ida E. (Fox) Smith. He married Johanna Lawens on Oct. 19, 1939, at St. Philomena Church in Beal City. He was a dairy farmer until 1967 and from 1968-1979 was employed by Mt. Pleasant Public Schools as a custodian. He later worked part-time for Beal City Public Schools. Walter was a member of St. Joseph The Worker Parish and the Knights Of Columbus Council 3651 in Beal City. Walter is survived by four children, Judy (Joe) Travis of Shepherd, John (Kathy) Smith of Beal City, James Smith of Haslett, and Janice (John) Gleason of Houghton Lake; 11 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; and nine step-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Johanna; great-grandson, Marcus Smith; son-in-law, Harry Millard; sister, Ella Yuncker; four brothers, Ed, Bob, Leo and Harold; and sister-in-law, Harriet Smith.