Russell Eugene Smith “Gene”, 90, of Terre Haute passed away on March 15, 2014 at Bethesda Gardens. He was born on July 28, 1923 in Hymera, IN to Victor Edgar Smith and Jennie Marie (Leonard) Smith. Gene graduated from Hymera High School. As a young man he enjoyed hunting and fishing. He served in the United States Army Air Corps during WWII as an Airplane Armorer in Hawaii, Guam, Saipan, and Tinian in the Pacific Theatre. Gene worked for Public Service of Indiana and Cinergy for over 45 years as a Machinist and Lath Operator. His co-workers knew him as “Russ” or “Smitty”. He was a member of Agape Christian Church, where he was a member of the M and M group. Later on in his life he enjoyed traveling, camping, gardening, tinkering with everything imaginable, and eating anything sweet.
Gene was preceded in death by his wife of almost 65 years Kathryn L. (Clark) Smith “Sally” in 2012; son Duane Eugene Smith in 2009; and his parents. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law David L. and Darlene K. Hall of rural Brazil, IN; grandchildren Kristina K. Gonsalves, her husband John of Modesto, CA, David L. Hall Jr., his wife Tynne of Janesville WI, and Kari M. Smith of Terre Haute; great grandchildren Travis Gonsalves, Ethan Gonsalves, and Bryce Hall; sister Mary Lou Smith Sweet of San Antonio, TX; brother-in-law Nathan Clark and his wife Harriet of Litchfield, KY.
Funeral services are scheduled for Wednesday March 19, 2014 in DeBaun Funeral Homes Springhill Chapel, 85 E Springhill Drive, at 1:00 p.m. Pastor Shan Smith will be officiating. Burial will be in Farmersburg Westlawn Cemetery. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. until service time.