Merwim " Pud " Smith

Merwin P. " Pud " Smith, age 90, of Monmouth, Illinois passed away at 1:00 am on October 18, 2012 at OSF St.Mary's Medical Center in Galesburg, Illinois. Pud was born on December 15, 1921 in Kirkwood, Illinois and is the son of Robert Miles and Ruth Elizabeth Pape Smith, Sr. He was raised in Henderson County in the Rozetta and Biggsville Communities. He attended rural schools and graduated from the Biggsville High School with the class of 1939. Merwin then entered the U.S. Navy in which he served during World War II. Pud first married Ruth Dixon in June of 1951 in the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. She preceded him on December 15, 1986. He was later married to Hazel Irene Baldwin on September 3, 1988 in Monmouth, Illinois and she preceded him in death on January 22, 2007. Merwin was a farmer in grain and livestock in Warren and Henderson Counties for many years.He is a member of Westminster United Presbyterian Church in Kirkwood, Illinois and an active member of the J.W. Clendenin Post 2301 in Monmouth, Illinois. Pud enjoyed activities at Strom Center in Monmouth, and enjoyed his R. V. s. " Pud " wintered in Florida for many years and always enjoyed attending baseball's spring training. He also enjoyed fishing. He is survived by three brothers Dale L. (Doris) Smith of Kirkwood, Illinois and Donald H. (Sylvia) Smith of Kirkwood, Illinois and James R. (Janet) Smith of LaMonte, Iowa. Two step daughters survive, Judith (John) Myers of Lomax, Illinois and Diana (Mark) Rosenthal of Posen, Illinois. Six grandchildren survive, Joe Cain, Jeannett Waterman, Christopher, Jonathan, Matthew, and Melissa Rosenthal. Six great grandchildren and one great grandchild are also surviving. A number of Nieces and Nephews also survive. He is preceded in his death by his parents, one brother Robert, and one nephew. Services:A funeral service will be at 10:30 am on Monday October 22, 2012 at Turnbull Funeral Home in Monmouth, Illinois. Interment with military honors will be in Warren County Memorial Park Cemetery. His family plans visitation with the family being present for the hour prior to the funeral on Monday 9:30 to 10:30 at the funeral on Monday. A memorial fund is being established for Strom Center in Monmouth, Illinois.