G. C. “Smitty” Smith Granville Caleb Smith, age 88, resident of rural Fort Scott, Kansas, died Tuesday, September 11, 2012, at his home. He was born April 12, 1924, in Sugar Creek, Missouri, the son of Alvis Edward Smith and Etta Marguerite Tomlinson Smith. He graduated from the Northeast High School in Kansas City, Missouri. He then enlisted with the United States Army and served in the European Theater. He was a member of the 324th Infantry Antitank Company and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Following his military service, he graduated from Central Missouri State University at Warrensburg with a degree in engineering. He married Dorotha Maston on August 5, 1945. She preceded him in death on February 9, 1973. He later married Ruth Jeffers Kastl on January 18, 1974 at the Fulton United Methodist Church. In addition to operating his own farm, G. C. worked for the United States Postal Service for over thirty years. Following his retirement, he took up golf and bowling and also enjoyed fishing and hunting. He faithfully attended the West Liberty United Methodist Church. He was also a member of the Old Forters Camping Club, the Masonic Lodge and the Mirza Shrine. G. C. and his wife, Ruth, traveled extensively throughout the United States.

Survivors include his wife, Ruth, of the home; his three children, Granville M. Smith and wife, Judy, Baxter, Iowa, Kathy Talbot, Macon, Missouri, and Richard Smith and wife, Cindy, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; a step-son, Michael Kastl, of Ft. Scott; nine grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, nineteen great-grandchildren, twelve step-great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandson. In addition to his first wife, he was preceded in death by a brother, Edward Smith and a sister, Joy Wood.

Pastor Donna Clark Fuller will conduct funeral services at 10:00 A.M. Friday, September 14th at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Fairview Cemetery where military honors will be provided by the Olson Frary Burkhart Post #1165 Veterans of Foreign Wars. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Thursday at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Mercy Hospice and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.