Eli E. Smith, age 89 years, passed away Monday, May 2, 2016 at his home in Clinton, Missouri. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 7, at 3 pm, with visitation 1 hour prior, at Clinton Christian Church. Interment will follow at Deepwater Cemetery, Deepwater, Missouri. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Twin Lakes Hospice and can be left in care of the funeral home. Fond memories and condolences may be left online at www.vansant-millsfuneralhome.com.
Earl was born in Deepwater, Missouri on January 20, 1927, the fifth child of Eli Lewis and Dora Etta (Smith) Lewis. Earl spent his early childhood in Deepwater, where he attended both elementary and high school. He graduated in 1944, immediately, thereafter he joined the United States Merchant Marine; where he served two years, spending time in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. He was at Naha, Okinawa when World War II ended. Returning to Deepwater, he found employment in Kansas City, Missouri. A year later he entered the United States Army, enlisting as a parachutist in the 82nd Airborne Division. By his retirement he had achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, seeing service in, Korea, Europe, Vietnam, Jordan, Malaysia, and other countries. He was trained as a Ranger and as the elite Green Beret (Special Forces). A veteran of over 25 years in the Army; he too, served in several different Airborne units. He was a master Parachutist, and he earned parachute wings of three other countries; Germany, Jordan, and Vietnam. Upon his retirement in 1972, he returned to Clinton, Missouri, where he was employed with Stewart-Nattinger Inc. He retired from there in 1982.
Earl was united in marriage to Gialda Grey Cashwell of Clinton, North Carolina, August 24, 1652. To this union two children were born; Eli Earl II, and Sheila Denise. Since his retirement, Earl traveled extensive; on tours within the United States as well as overseas. He married Willie Mae Williams, December 7, 1994. Together they continued to travel the world, and were continuously kept busy by doing many interesting things. Earl was an avid outdoorsman, loving to hunt, and fish. He was a member of the Christian Church of Clinton, where he was a Diaconate Emeritus. Other associations were his life-time memberships in the Disabled Veteran Association #2, Kansas City, Missouri; VFW post # 1894, Clinton, and the American Legion post #14, Clinton. He has been a member of the Morning Optimist Club of Clinton, and a past President of the Evening Optimist Club of Clinton. He was a veteran scouter, obtaining the rank of Eagle, while in high school. He continued to serve scouter as a leader while he was in the U.S. Army and upon his return to Clinton until 1976.
He was a devoted and loving father and will be deeply missed by his wife, children, relatives, friends, and anyone who was blessed to know him.
He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife Gialda, son, Eli Earl II, four brothers; Lewis, Leon, Wayne, and Robert, and one sister, Ramona Duncan.
He is survived by his wife, Willie Mae of the home, daughter, Sheila Denise (Craig) Greenwood of Chandler, Arizona; step-daughter, Brenda Lee McPeek of Overland Park, Kansas, five grand-children; Richard, Hannah, Caleb, Joshua, and Tom, one sister, Wanda Dee Reynolds of Raytown, Missouri, one brother, Donald Ray Smith of Kansas City, Missouri, two great granddaughters, Skyler and Sierra, plus several nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home of Clinton, Missouri.
Retired US Army LTC
WWII - Korea - Vietnam
Earl was born in Deepwater, Missouri on January 20, 1927, the fifth child of Eli Lewis and Dora Etta (Smith) Lewis. Earl spent his early childhood in Deepwater, where he attended both elementary and high school. He graduated in 1944, immediately, thereafter he joined the United States Merchant Marine; where he served two years, spending time in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. He was at Naha, Okinawa when World War II ended. Returning to Deepwater, he found employment in Kansas City, Missouri. A year later he entered the United States Army, enlisting as a parachutist in the 82nd Airborne Division. By his retirement he had achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, seeing service in, Korea, Europe, Vietnam, Jordan, Malaysia, and other countries. He was trained as a Ranger and as the elite Green Beret (Special Forces). A veteran of over 25 years in the Army; he too, served in several different Airborne units. He was a master Parachutist, and he earned parachute wings of three other countries; Germany, Jordan, and Vietnam. Upon his retirement in 1972, he returned to Clinton, Missouri, where he was employed with Stewart-Nattinger Inc. He retired from there in 1982.
Earl was united in marriage to Gialda Grey Cashwell of Clinton, North Carolina, August 24, 1652. To this union two children were born; Eli Earl II, and Sheila Denise. Since his retirement, Earl traveled extensive; on tours within the United States as well as overseas. He married Willie Mae Williams, December 7, 1994. Together they continued to travel the world, and were continuously kept busy by doing many interesting things. Earl was an avid outdoorsman, loving to hunt, and fish. He was a member of the Christian Church of Clinton, where he was a Diaconate Emeritus. Other associations were his life-time memberships in the Disabled Veteran Association #2, Kansas City, Missouri; VFW post # 1894, Clinton, and the American Legion post #14, Clinton. He has been a member of the Morning Optimist Club of Clinton, and a past President of the Evening Optimist Club of Clinton. He was a veteran scouter, obtaining the rank of Eagle, while in high school. He continued to serve scouter as a leader while he was in the U.S. Army and upon his return to Clinton until 1976.
He was a devoted and loving father and will be deeply missed by his wife, children, relatives, friends, and anyone who was blessed to know him.
He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife Gialda, son, Eli Earl II, four brothers; Lewis, Leon, Wayne, and Robert, and one sister, Ramona Duncan.
He is survived by his wife, Willie Mae of the home, daughter, Sheila Denise (Craig) Greenwood of Chandler, Arizona; step-daughter, Brenda Lee McPeek of Overland Park, Kansas, five grand-children; Richard, Hannah, Caleb, Joshua, and Tom, one sister, Wanda Dee Reynolds of Raytown, Missouri, one brother, Donald Ray Smith of Kansas City, Missouri, two great granddaughters, Skyler and Sierra, plus several nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home of Clinton, Missouri.
Retired US Army LTC
WWII - Korea - Vietnam
Eli E. Smith, age 89 years, passed away Monday, May 2, 2016 at his home in Clinton, Missouri. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 7, at 3 pm, with visitation 1 hour prior, at Clinton Christian Church. Interment will follow at Deepwater Cemetery, Deepwater, Missouri. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Twin Lakes Hospice and can be left in care of the funeral home. Fond memories and condolences may be left online at www.vansant-millsfuneralhome.com.
Earl was born in Deepwater, Missouri on January 20, 1927, the fifth child of Eli Lewis and Dora Etta (Smith) Lewis. Earl spent his early childhood in Deepwater, where he attended both elementary and high school. He graduated in 1944, immediately, thereafter he joined the United States Merchant Marine; where he served two years, spending time in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. He was at Naha, Okinawa when World War II ended. Returning to Deepwater, he found employment in Kansas City, Missouri. A year later he entered the United States Army, enlisting as a parachutist in the 82nd Airborne Division. By his retirement he had achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, seeing service in, Korea, Europe, Vietnam, Jordan, Malaysia, and other countries. He was trained as a Ranger and as the elite Green Beret (Special Forces). A veteran of over 25 years in the Army; he too, served in several different Airborne units. He was a master Parachutist, and he earned parachute wings of three other countries; Germany, Jordan, and Vietnam. Upon his retirement in 1972, he returned to Clinton, Missouri, where he was employed with Stewart-Nattinger Inc. He retired from there in 1982.
Earl was united in marriage to Gialda Grey Cashwell of Clinton, North Carolina, August 24, 1652. To this union two children were born; Eli Earl II, and Sheila Denise. Since his retirement, Earl traveled extensive; on tours within the United States as well as overseas. He married Willie Mae Williams, December 7, 1994. Together they continued to travel the world, and were continuously kept busy by doing many interesting things. Earl was an avid outdoorsman, loving to hunt, and fish. He was a member of the Christian Church of Clinton, where he was a Diaconate Emeritus. Other associations were his life-time memberships in the Disabled Veteran Association #2, Kansas City, Missouri; VFW post # 1894, Clinton, and the American Legion post #14, Clinton. He has been a member of the Morning Optimist Club of Clinton, and a past President of the Evening Optimist Club of Clinton. He was a veteran scouter, obtaining the rank of Eagle, while in high school. He continued to serve scouter as a leader while he was in the U.S. Army and upon his return to Clinton until 1976.
He was a devoted and loving father and will be deeply missed by his wife, children, relatives, friends, and anyone who was blessed to know him.
He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife Gialda, son, Eli Earl II, four brothers; Lewis, Leon, Wayne, and Robert, and one sister, Ramona Duncan.
He is survived by his wife, Willie Mae of the home, daughter, Sheila Denise (Craig) Greenwood of Chandler, Arizona; step-daughter, Brenda Lee McPeek of Overland Park, Kansas, five grand-children; Richard, Hannah, Caleb, Joshua, and Tom, one sister, Wanda Dee Reynolds of Raytown, Missouri, one brother, Donald Ray Smith of Kansas City, Missouri, two great granddaughters, Skyler and Sierra, plus several nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home of Clinton, Missouri.
Retired US Army LTC
WWII - Korea - Vietnam
Earl was born in Deepwater, Missouri on January 20, 1927, the fifth child of Eli Lewis and Dora Etta (Smith) Lewis. Earl spent his early childhood in Deepwater, where he attended both elementary and high school. He graduated in 1944, immediately, thereafter he joined the United States Merchant Marine; where he served two years, spending time in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. He was at Naha, Okinawa when World War II ended. Returning to Deepwater, he found employment in Kansas City, Missouri. A year later he entered the United States Army, enlisting as a parachutist in the 82nd Airborne Division. By his retirement he had achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, seeing service in, Korea, Europe, Vietnam, Jordan, Malaysia, and other countries. He was trained as a Ranger and as the elite Green Beret (Special Forces). A veteran of over 25 years in the Army; he too, served in several different Airborne units. He was a master Parachutist, and he earned parachute wings of three other countries; Germany, Jordan, and Vietnam. Upon his retirement in 1972, he returned to Clinton, Missouri, where he was employed with Stewart-Nattinger Inc. He retired from there in 1982.
Earl was united in marriage to Gialda Grey Cashwell of Clinton, North Carolina, August 24, 1652. To this union two children were born; Eli Earl II, and Sheila Denise. Since his retirement, Earl traveled extensive; on tours within the United States as well as overseas. He married Willie Mae Williams, December 7, 1994. Together they continued to travel the world, and were continuously kept busy by doing many interesting things. Earl was an avid outdoorsman, loving to hunt, and fish. He was a member of the Christian Church of Clinton, where he was a Diaconate Emeritus. Other associations were his life-time memberships in the Disabled Veteran Association #2, Kansas City, Missouri; VFW post # 1894, Clinton, and the American Legion post #14, Clinton. He has been a member of the Morning Optimist Club of Clinton, and a past President of the Evening Optimist Club of Clinton. He was a veteran scouter, obtaining the rank of Eagle, while in high school. He continued to serve scouter as a leader while he was in the U.S. Army and upon his return to Clinton until 1976.
He was a devoted and loving father and will be deeply missed by his wife, children, relatives, friends, and anyone who was blessed to know him.
He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife Gialda, son, Eli Earl II, four brothers; Lewis, Leon, Wayne, and Robert, and one sister, Ramona Duncan.
He is survived by his wife, Willie Mae of the home, daughter, Sheila Denise (Craig) Greenwood of Chandler, Arizona; step-daughter, Brenda Lee McPeek of Overland Park, Kansas, five grand-children; Richard, Hannah, Caleb, Joshua, and Tom, one sister, Wanda Dee Reynolds of Raytown, Missouri, one brother, Donald Ray Smith of Kansas City, Missouri, two great granddaughters, Skyler and Sierra, plus several nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home of Clinton, Missouri.
Retired US Army LTC
WWII - Korea - Vietnam
Inscription
Have Faith in God.
Father of Eli Earl II and Shelia Denise.
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