Joe L. Smith, age 87, of Gaston, IN, passed away Saturday, November 5, 2011 at The Waters of Yorktown Nursing Home. He was born July 28, 1924 in Chicago, IL to Vernon and Elva (Ferguson) Smith. Joe was a WWII Army Air Corp veteran and worked at Chevrolet in Muncie for 40 and ½ yrs as a Gear Cutter, retiring in 1986. He was a member of American Legion Post # 387 in Gaston, IN; a member of the Scottish Rite and Matthews Masonic Lodge # 650.
He married the former Mavelyn Hill on December 26, 1946 in Muncie and she survives along with her daughter, Deborah Broyles, (husband James), of Hamilton, OH; son, Mark Smith (friend Kent Nordvig), of Washington, D.C.; daughter-in-law, Arlene Smith, of Gaston; granddaughters, Jessica Broyles, of Asheville, NC and Lara Smith, of Gaston; special friend, his Chocolate Lab, Amber. Joe was preceded in death by his parents and one son David Smith.
Funeral services will be held Friday, November 11, 2011 at 1:00 PM at Garden View Funeral Home, 10501 N. State Rd. 3, Muncie, IN 47303 with Pastor Elden Morehouse officiating. Visitation will be from 11:00 AM until service time. A Masonic service will be held at 12:30 PM, prior to the funeral service. Burial will follow in Gardens of Memory Cemetery. The family requests memorial contributions to The Salvation Army or the Muncie Mission, 1725 S. Liberty Street, Muncie, IN 47302.