James R. Smith, 85, of Muncie began celebrating with the Lord after passing at Ball Memorial Hospital on Wednesday evening, December 8, 2010.
He was the son of Fred and Elsie Smith of Hillsboro, IL. On September 28, 1973, he married Karen Burgess Nelson.
Jim was a proud veteran, serving as a Marine in Japan during World War II. He received his pilot's license upon discharge from the military and enjoyed flying for several years. As a member of the Muncie Rifle and Pistol Club, Jim was an expert shooter, and enjoyed practicing and teaching gun handling and safety for over fifty-five years.
A hard worker, Jim was employed at Chevrolet in Muncie for thirty years. After retiring, he worked at the Muncie Airport another twenty years and finally Jim worked ten years for Bill Frazier.
Jim is survived by three daughters, Donna Small (husband, Jimmy) of Marion, IN, Karen (Suzie) Nelson Martin, of Muncie and Lesa Nelson Gregory (husband, Mac) of Ft. Wayne; two sons, Bruce Smith and David Smith; Jim had three beautiful grandchildren, Jessica Sullivent Oester (husband, Chip) of Nashville, TN, Trey Gregory and Evan Gregory of Ft. Wayne, and one great-grandchild, Oliver Oester of Nashville.
Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Karen; both parents and two sisters.
Friends may call from 10-11 a.m. Saturday, December 11, 2010 at Garden View Funeral Home, 10501 North State Road 3 Muncie, IN.
A celebration of Jim's life will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Pastor Denny Helton will officiate. Burial will be at Gardens of Memory Cemetery with military honors performed by the Veteran's of Delaware County.
Preferred memorials may be directed to the Wounded Warriors Project (http://www.woundedwarriorsproject.org) PO Box 758516 Topeka, KS 66675 or Marines Helping Marines Organization, (http://www.marineshelpingmarines.org) MHM Hospital Program PO Box 141 West Minster, MD 21158.