Ronald C. Smith, age 90 of Gnaw Bone, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 25, 2023 at the IU Bloomington Hospice House. He was a 37-year resident of Brown County.
Ron was born Aug. 22, 1932 in Carterville, Ill. to his parents the late Claude and Hope (Crane) Smith. He graduated from high school in Johnson City, Ill. in 1950. Ron proudly served his country from 1952 to 1954 as a Corporal with the United States Army during the Korean War. During that time, Ron was able to take leave and marry his sweetheart, Dorothy Jean Futrell in Paducah, Ky. Together they celebrated 63 loving years of marriage before her passing in 2016.
Ron worked for the Railway Express Company for 20 years, delivering packages from the railroad to customer’s door. He later became a self-employed Over the Road Truck Driver for 25 years, until his retirement in 1996.
After retirement, Ron and his wife Dorothy, enjoyed wintering in Texas and traveling the country in their RV. He also enjoyed tending to his vegetable garden, reading mechanical, transportation and nature books and listening to live music. In 2017, Ron was inducted as a Master Mason with the Nashville Masonic Lodge #135, alongside his son, Russell. Most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his family.
He will be missed by his children, Shirley Smith of Bloomington and Russell (Abigail) Smith of Nashville; grandchildren, Amanda Kobiernik, Amber Findley, John Smith, Fenris Smith, Faedra Smith and; six great grandchildren; Jaymen, Caitlin, Sabrina, Mike, Kaylee, Ashton and Sophia.
Ron was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Dorothy Jean Smith, brother Wayne Smith and son, Bob Smith.
Pastor Paul Harden will conduct a funeral service at 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 30 at Meredith-Clark Funeral Home, 179 E. Mulberry Street in Morgantown. A Masonic Service will conclude the 1 p.m. funeral service. Friends may call from 11 a.m. until service time at the funeral home. Burial will be at Brown County Memorial Park Cemetery in Brown County with military rites presented by the Brown County Honor Guard and the United States Army.
Memorial contributions may be sent in memory of Ronald to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research: P.O. Box 5014 Hagerstown, MD 21741. Condolences may be sent to the Smith family at meredith-clark.com
