Merle “Bud” Smith
Merle “Bud” Smith
Merle “Bud” Smith
April 29, 1922 – October 26, 2012
Cedar Falls, Iowa
Merle J. “Bud” Smith, 90, of Cedar Falls, Iowa and formerly of Oskaloosa, died Friday, October 26, 2012, at the Windsor Nursing and Rehab Center in Cedar Falls, Iowa. He was born April 29, 1922, in Oskaloosa, Iowa the son of Harry and Irene Odem Smith. He graduated from the Oskaloosa High School with the class of 1940. Following graduation he went to work at Iowa Valve. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1942; was wounded in combat and earned a Purple Heart, and honorably discharged in 1945. On August 16, 1952, he was united in marriage to Eileen Hensley at Oskaloosa; Eileen died on May 1, 2008. Following his military service, he returned to Oskaloosa and went back to work for Iowa Valve (now Clow Valve) in Oskaloosa. He worked there as a machinist for 42 years. During his career at Iowa Valve and Clow he was very active with the I.A.M. Union and had served as president. In September of 2005, Bud and Eileen moved to Cedar Falls to be near their daughter. He was a member of the St. Mary’s Catholic Church, the V.F.W., American Legion, and the D.A.V. He enjoyed gardening with Eileen, taking his family camping and watching sports. He had a lifelong love of reading and keeping up on current events.
Bud’s family includes his three children and their spouses, Andrew and Elaine Smith of Newberg, Oregon, William and Susan Smith of West Hills, California, and Mary and Donald Prostine of Cedar Falls, Iowa; four grandchildren, Joel (Danelle) Smith, Robyn (Brad) Cooper, Benjamin Prostine, and Jacob Smith; two great grandchildren, Ilia and Baron Smith; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his wife, Bud was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Martha Bruns, Juanita Ahlbrecht, and Jane Ann Smith; and a brother, Delbert Smith.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, October 31, 2012 at 10 a.m. in the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Oskaloosa with Reverend Jeff Belger officiating. Burial will be in the St. Mary’s Cemetery in Oskaloosa. Graveside military rites will be given by members of the Oskaloosa American Legion and V.F.W. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will begin Tuesday morning after 11 in the Bates Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa and the family will be at the funeral chapel from 5-7 Tuesday evening to greet friends and relatives. There will be a Christian Vigil Service at 7 p.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel. Memorials may be made to the V.F.W. Post 2237 or Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders Association.
