The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-08-11
Deaths
AUSTIN FISH SMITH

Austin Fish Smith passed away
this morning at Boyer Hospital
about $3.50. He was born August
26, 1859, at Honeoyne Falls, N. Y.
the Oldest son OF Andrew David and
Paulina Fish Smith. He came to
Ann Arbor with his parents when
eight years old. and since had lived
in Washtenaw County.
He married Ida Evelyn Baekus,
Dexter. on December 5. 1883. She
preceded him in death on April 10,
1902, at Fruitdale. Alabama, where
the family lived for one year, and
where Mr.. Smith installed and
operated the hrst telephone ex-
change in this community. Follow:
ing her death, Mr.. Smith returned
to Ann Arbor with his family.
On January 6, 1904, he married
Bertha Jane Ferris. Dexter. and the
family then moved to Ypsilanti.
where Mr.. Smith was associated for
many years with the Michigan Bell
Telephone Company. before enter.
ing the electrical contracting bust.
ness. Mrs. Smith died February
20. 1914. and one son. Lester. died
in infancy. Mr.. Smith was a men,
Der Of the Methodist Church and
the Maccabees.
Surviving are two sons, Emery
E. Smith. Detroit. and Andrew
David Smith. Ypsilanti; two daugh-
ters. Mrs. Alfred ]. Allen tElsie)
Ypsilanti. and Mrs. John J. Grant
(Helen 1rene), Crosse Point
Woods; three sisters, Mrs. Delbert
Davidson (Lois). White Lake. Mrs.
Albert Spiess (Ida). Ann Arbor.
and Mrs. Edwin w. Lapson (Kath-
ryn), Ann Arbor; twelve grandchil.
dren. OF whom four serve In the
armed forces. One OF these, 1t.
Robert Smith Allen, was killed In
July 1941 when his plane crashed
In California.
Funeral services will be from the
Stevens and Bush Funeral Home at
. p. m. Monday with Rev. Gordon
Speer officiating. Burial will be In
Webster Cemetery.
PFC THOMAS }. FOSTER
Word has been received OF the
death OF Pfc. Thomas ]. Foster. son
OF Mr.. and Mrs. Lyle Foster. 1888
Lyman Ave. Pfc. Foster was
drowned May IL at Frankfurt on
the Main River. Germany. At the
time OF his death, he was 20 years
old. Entering the service on July
81. 1914, he was home on a fur
Tough of 10 days before being sent
overseas. He went to France. from
where he wrote his first letter
from overseas on January 10. 1945.
Several letters. including one
from Cpl. Kelsey Stone OF Company
H. in Germany have been received
by the family. Cpl. Stone stated
that MY life will always be richer
and finer for having known your
son and for having had the priv
ilege OF being in his company
Another letter, received from
Captain Charles b. Chase says.
pfc. Foster was a swell guy, but
what guess in these times is more
important......a man to be trusted,
darn fine soldier"
From Staff Sergeant John B.
Rogers, tom, in my opinion was
the finest man in the section.
The commanding colonel wrote,
Tom proved himself a splendid
soldier and his outstanding charac-
ter resulted in his being held in
high regard by all members OF the
command"
Pfc. Foster was buried at Margra-
ten. Holland In a military cemetery.
He is survived by a brother, DON
aid, and his parents.
Pfc. Foster was graduated from
Union City High School and took
postgraduate work at Ann Arbor
High School. He was also grad
uated from the Michigan State Nor
NAL College in June. 1914, receiv-
ing his Bachelor OF Science De-
gree In phVsics