1917
Howard
2011
Howard Smithson
September 18, 1917 — June 3, 2011
Howard Taft Smithson, 93, of Paducah died Friday, June 3, at his home.
He was born in Saltillo, Tenn., where he graduated from Hardin County High School in 1936. On January 29, 1937, he married Mary Oleta Powers, who preceded him in death in 1989. They moved to the Paducah area in late 1937, where he remained until his death. He worked for Taylor Wilson Chevrolet Co. from 1938-1948, when he went into business for himself with Smithson's Body Shop. He later entered the rental business and was the owner of Howard Smithson Rentals with housing and office space.
Mr. Smithson was a member of Masonic Lodge #127 over 60 years and a 32nd degree Mason; Rizpah Shrine Temple of Madisonville, Ky.; Rizpah Oriental Band-President 1966-67; Paducah Shrine Club-Director 1973-74; Scottish Rite Club, a Life Member and serving on the degree team for many years; White Shrine of Jerusalem; Eastern Star Clara Henrich Chapter; Sword of Bunker Hill; Kiwanis Club of South Paducah, where he was a member for over fifty years and past President, and a member of Fraternal Order of Eagles of Paducah. He was an avid fan of the University of Kentucky Wildcat Basketball Team, a Kentucky Colonel and a Duke of Paducah. He was a member of Fountain Avenue United Methodist Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Peggy Smithson Cole (husband, Charles), Dianne Smithson Roberts (husband, Glynn); and one son, William Smithson, all of Paducah; five grandchildren, Todd Smithson (wife, Kayla), Timothy Vasseur, Lisa Chandler (husband, Mark), all of Paducah, and Glynn Roberts (wife, Angie), St. Louis, Mo., and Bryan Roberts of St. Genevieve, Mo.; seven great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild, several nieces and nephews.
Preceding in death were his wife, Mary Smithson; parents, William T. and Mary Campbell Harrison Smithson; one son, Howard Terry Smithson; four brothers, Bob, Hubert, Lawton and Tommy Smithson; three sisters, Cora Mae Anglin, Virginia Mayhall, Ruth Lowder.
The family wishes to thank Lourdes Hospice and his special caregiver, George Blackburn, for helping make his final days more peaceful and easy.
Services will be held Monday, June 6, 2011, at 11 a.m. at the Lone Oak Chapel of Milner and Orr Funeral Home with Rev. Greg Waldrop officiating. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Sunday, June 5, 2011, from 5-8 p.m. with Masonic rites to be held at 7 p.m.
Expression of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 1900 Richmond Road, Lexington, KY 40502; Lourdes Hospice, P.O. Box 7100, Paducah, KY; or charity of your choice.
You may leave a message of sympathy or light a candle at milnerandorr.com.
Read more: The Paducah Sun - Howard Taft Smithson
He was born in Saltillo, Tenn., where he graduated from Hardin County High School in 1936. On January 29, 1937, he married Mary Oleta Powers, who preceded him in death in 1989. They moved to the Paducah area in late 1937, where he remained until his death. He worked for Taylor Wilson Chevrolet Co. from 1938-1948, when he went into business for himself with Smithson's Body Shop. He later entered the rental business and was the owner of Howard Smithson Rentals with housing and office space.
Mr. Smithson was a member of Masonic Lodge #127 over 60 years and a 32nd degree Mason; Rizpah Shrine Temple of Madisonville, Ky.; Rizpah Oriental Band-President 1966-67; Paducah Shrine Club-Director 1973-74; Scottish Rite Club, a Life Member and serving on the degree team for many years; White Shrine of Jerusalem; Eastern Star Clara Henrich Chapter; Sword of Bunker Hill; Kiwanis Club of South Paducah, where he was a member for over fifty years and past President, and a member of Fraternal Order of Eagles of Paducah. He was an avid fan of the University of Kentucky Wildcat Basketball Team, a Kentucky Colonel and a Duke of Paducah. He was a member of Fountain Avenue United Methodist Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Peggy Smithson Cole (husband, Charles), Dianne Smithson Roberts (husband, Glynn); and one son, William Smithson, all of Paducah; five grandchildren, Todd Smithson (wife, Kayla), Timothy Vasseur, Lisa Chandler (husband, Mark), all of Paducah, and Glynn Roberts (wife, Angie), St. Louis, Mo., and Bryan Roberts of St. Genevieve, Mo.; seven great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild, several nieces and nephews.
Preceding in death were his wife, Mary Smithson; parents, William T. and Mary Campbell Harrison Smithson; one son, Howard Terry Smithson; four brothers, Bob, Hubert, Lawton and Tommy Smithson; three sisters, Cora Mae Anglin, Virginia Mayhall, Ruth Lowder.
The family wishes to thank Lourdes Hospice and his special caregiver, George Blackburn, for helping make his final days more peaceful and easy.
Services will be held Monday, June 6, 2011, at 11 a.m. at the Lone Oak Chapel of Milner and Orr Funeral Home with Rev. Greg Waldrop officiating. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Sunday, June 5, 2011, from 5-8 p.m. with Masonic rites to be held at 7 p.m.
Expression of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 1900 Richmond Road, Lexington, KY 40502; Lourdes Hospice, P.O. Box 7100, Paducah, KY; or charity of your choice.
You may leave a message of sympathy or light a candle at milnerandorr.com.
Read more: The Paducah Sun - Howard Taft Smithson
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