The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1918-12-05
Geo. w. Smith.

| Geo. w. Smith, the youngest sor
of Mr.. and Mrs. Hugh Smith, was
born in Woodland township, Decatur
had lived his entire life in the
county and had never been away
from home for more than two weeks
until he was called to the colors
May 25, 1918. He reported for duty
at Camp Dodge, Iowa, and was as
signed to Co. F, 351st Infantry Regi-
ment, SSth Division. He remained
at Camp Dodge until the middle OF
August when his regiment was or
were here but a few days when they
embarked for England. They rest
cd few days at Riverside and then
sailed for France. His letters home
showed a decided change in his mil
itary views. 1t was hard to recon-
cile himself to the thought that it
was right to take life. in warfare.
into the service the righteousness of
the cause and the greatness of the
danger, aroused in him the slumber-
ing patriotism. He wrote home to
his parents and told them that his
old scruples had vanished, that he
was proud to be in the service, glad
that he had enlisted in the service
anu WdHleu " Stdv ulllll Tic Suu.
When he arrived in England he
wrote cheerfully to his parents say
ing that he never had been home
sick and did not want to come home
until tho war was over. The last let
He was we'll at the time and was
ter received from him was from
France and postmarked October 3rd:
striving to serve his country with all
his devotion. Soon after this he
must have been stricken with the in
fluenza. He was taken to the base
hospital and the disease developed
bronchial pneumonia. He passed
away at the hospital Saturday, Oct.
-, 1918.
High Point NJ. L. church. He pro-
fessed conversion several years ago
at special meetings held by the
Friends in their church at High
Point. He tried to live an earnest
consistent christian life. He was re-
ligiously inclined and gave express
sion to his religious beliefs in his
kindness in the home, his affection
for his father and mother and his
fondness for his brothers and sisters.
He was always glad to accept the
counsel of his parents and he never
ignored their advice. He was a
splendid young man, with a bright
\
Gus and laid plans for a successful
future in farming. He had the re-
spect and good will of all who knew
him. His going from our midst is
loss felt by all. The sympathy of
the community goes out to the par
ents in their grief as they mourn for
their son. But their lives will be
enriched spiritually and an abiding
JOY will be theirs when they remem-
Der the high and just cause for
which he died. At the time Of
Georges death he was "a years, |
month and % days old.
Besides his parents he leaves to
mourn him. two brothers and four
sisters. They are Austin and Ira,
Annie, wife of Jessie Trotter. Of
wife of Everett Massey, of Woodland
township; Bertha, wife of Richard
Bumgarner, of High Point. and Coy.
who remains at home. His body will
| rest in France. His soul has gone
home to God. "Greater love hath no
man than man lay down his life
! Ior his friends.'
held in the NJ. e. church Sunday
morning, Nov. 24th, at II O'Clock
conducted by the pastor Rev. G. ].
| Winslow, assisted by Rev. VIM
Jones of the Presbyterian church.
! Special music was provided by the
united choir of both churches and by
a m a | e quartette consisting OF
Messrs. Robert Tatman, Thomas Will
liams, Rex Winslow and Roy Hoad-
! ley The floral tributes were es-
pecially beautiful. In addition to
! the wreaths and sprays that enclos-
ed the picture of the deceased there
were tributes of flowers from the
teachers of the High Point school
and other friends.
The national colors and the flag
George followed were fittingly ar
ranged and above the altar were the
words IN Memoriam." The star
representing the name on the service
flag was changed from blue to gold.
| In the list Of names who made the
supreme sacrifice to make the world
| safe for democracy, will be added
| the name of George Smith