- Date Of Birth: July 6, 1927
- Date Of Death: December 27, 2010
- State: Indiana
James Edward “Jim” Smith, 83, of Elkhart, died Monday, Dec. 27, 2010, at 3:32 p.m. at the Elkhart Hospice House after battling a brief illness. He was surrounded by his family and closest friends. He was born July 6, 1927, in South Bend to James E. and Bessie Smith. On April 20, 1950, he married Bertha Marino, who passed away in Elkhart on Sept. 14, 2003.
Surviving are his two children, Robin (Robert) Smith-Alexander of Chicago, and James P. (Leslie) Smith of Elkhart, as well as five grandchildren.
Besides his wife, Bertha, he is also preceded in death by a sister, Elizabeth “Betty” Fry.
On Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010, there will be a gathering of friends and family at Billings Funeral Home from 4 to 8 p.m. with a vigil service scheduled for 4:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 30, 2010, at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Elkhart.
Jim was a 1945 graduate of Mishawaka High School and then served in the U.S. Navy following his graduation. After his honorable discharge, he attended Northwestern Illinois University and then served as an Indiana State Trooper until 1969, when he retired from the state police and began working for the Weyerhaeuser Company of Elkhart. He also volunteered as an usher for the University of Notre Dame sporting events, as well as an organizer for Mishawaka High School Alumni Club events. His most memorable moment in life occurred this past year when he was able to travel to Washington D.C., with a group of fellow World War II veterans to visit the National World War II Memorial, erected in honor of their service. He was also a member of the St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, Council 1043 Knights of Columbus, and the Italian-American Relief Association (or IARA), all of Elkhart. He will be best remembered as an avid golfer.
