Eldon Edmund Smith

Eldon E. Smith, age 91, of Maumee, passed away peacefully the evening of July 24, 2009. His spirit is now forever canoeing the Boundary Waters. Eldon was born in Lima, Ohio to James and Ruth Buffenbarger Smith. He was the oldest of six children. He moved with his family to the Whitehouse, Ohio area where he attended Whitehouse School and graduated in 1935. On June 19, 1937 he married the light of his Life Violet Beal Smith. They celebrated 72 years of marriage in 2009 and she survives. They were Maumee, Ohio residents for over fifty years. Eldon was a farmer and factory-worker early on in life; during the WPA he helped dig the Erie Canal through Maumee, Ohio. Eldon then went on to work for the Kuhlman Builders Supply Company for 27 years, retiring at the age of 65. For the next 17 years he worked at his favorite job as a school crossing guard. He was well-known in the Maumee Community for his wave and smile to all passer-bys as he was helping the students across River Road on their journey to Fort Miami School. Eldon was a great outdoors man, a long time member of the National Rifle Association. He loved to fish, hunt and canoe; especially along the Maumee River and the Boundary Waters of Minnesota. He was a proud owner of a cottage on Bird Lake in Osseo, Michigan where he loved to fish and provided fond memories for his family. He loved to play the guitar and sing; he penned many poems for songs and for the love of his life Violet. He was well-known for being a story-teller, along with his quick wit and humor which included many old-time sayings and new ones. Eldon was extremely proud of his beaded hat band that he made at the age of 83; everyone who met him knew how many beads he had used to make it and the story behind the pattern he designed. He also thoroughly enjoyed in his later years attending the annual Perrysburg Powwow at Buttonwood Park with his family. His knowledge of nature and herbal remedies was profound. He past all of these memories along to his family and he will be sadly missed and never forgotten. Left to cherish his memory are his wife; two children: Bonnie Earl and Les Laura Smith; five grandchildren: Bill Patti Earl, Bethany Frank Fehsenfeld, Bridget Steve Walman, Nickie Steve Garbeil, and Megan Smith. Eldon was also blessed with thirteen great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters Florence Olsen and Alice Burkhardt and a brother Carl Janie Smith. He was preceded in death by his parents; bothers, Bernard and Walter Smith and son-law, Bill Earl Sr. Friends and family may visit the Maison-Dardenne-Walker Funeral Home, 501 Conant St. Maumee on Wednesday from 4-8 pm where funeral services will begin on Thursday at 10:00 am. Interment will follow at Highland Memory Gardens. In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions be made to St. Pauls Lutheran Church 112 E. Wayne St. Maumee, OH 43537 or Allen United Methodist Church 167 W. Chicago Rd. Allen, MI 49227. www.walkerfuneralhomes.com