By Staff
May 16, 2007
Funeral for Rudolph Smith, 90, of Hartselle was Friday, May 18, at 11 a.m. at Peck Fun-eral Home Chapel with the Rev. Brooks Barkley and Dr. Jeff Redmond officiating.
Burial was in Hartselle City Cemetery with military honors.
Mr. Smith died Wednesday, May 16, 2007, at his residence. He was born December 4, 1916, in Madison County to the Rev. Frank T. Smith and Mary Alberta Durham Smith. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Hartselle and was retired from Western Auto Supply Company as a store manager. During World War II, he served in the European Theater as a member of the Eighth Air Force. He was a B-17 pilot who earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters, and a medal with three bronze stars for service in Normandy, Northern France and German campaigns. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Frank Smith, two sisters, Lucille Palmer and Virginia Smith and a grandchild, Patrick Smith.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Jean Goad Smith of Hartselle; three sons, Fred Smith and wife Sandra and Jim Smith and wife Lou, all of Hartselle and Tom Smith and wife Sue of Town Creek; seven grandchildren, Steven Smith and wife Mary Beth, Leah Turner and husband Gary, Thomas Smith Jr. and wife Regina, Lori Pace and husband Randy, Mark Smith and wife Nickie, Ben Smith and Leslie Smith.
Pallbearers were Thomas Smith, Charles Edward Smith, John Frank Smith, Mark Smith, Randy Pace and Gary Turner.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice of the Valley or the First Baptist Church Building Fund.