Melvin Charles Smith

Thursday, December 21, 2006

March 12, 1920 - Dec. 19, 2006

ARAPAHOE?--?Melvin Charles Smith, 96, died Tuesday (Dec. 19, 2006) at the C.A. Mues Good Samaritan Center in Arapahoe.

He was born March 12, 1920, in Dawson County to Arthur C. and Ella A. (Sutphen) Smith. He attended school at Lexington and graduated from Lexington High School with the Class of 1937.

After his schooling, he moved to Santa Monica, Calif., to work at Douglas Aircraft Company. He served in the Army from July of 1942, until December of 1945.

On Oct. 17, 1945, he married Margaret Mary Toomey at the First Methodist Church, in Lexington. They made their home northwest of Arapahoe where they farmed for many years. In 1962, they moved to Arapahoe where he worked as a carpenter.

In 1970, he started working for Arapahoe Public Schools as custodian and head of maintenance. He retired from the school in 1990, after 20 years. During his retirement he kept busy doing many small carpentry jobs in Arapahoe and for his church. Margaret died on Aug. 20, 2006.

He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Sunny's Sunday School Class, First United Methodist Morning Men's Group, all of Arapahoe, and the American Legion Post 9343 of Edison. He was a member of the Arapahoe Fire and Rescue Squad for 43 years and served as Secretary and EMT trainer for many years.

He is preceded in death by his parents, wife, Margaret; brothers, Carl, Merle, Lloyd, Gerald, and Vernon; and sisters; Velma and Doris.

Survivors include daughters, Susan and husband, William Orsborn of Denver, Colo., Kathleen and husband, Daniel Keiner of Omaha, and Nancy, Long of Holbrook; one sister, Betty Smith of Lafayette, Colo.; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be Saturday, 10:30 a.m., at the First United Methodist Church in Arapahoe, with the Rev. Michael Flury officiating. Interment will be at Arapahoe Cemetery with military rites by the American Legion Post No. 343 of Edison.

Visitation is today until 9 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Wenburg Funeral Horne and prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Condolences or personal reflections can be left at www.wenburgfuneralhome.com

Wenburg Funeral Home, of Arapahoe, Nebraska is in charge of arrangements.