Obituary of Russell Francis Smith

Russell Francis Smith, 95, died January 26, 2017 at home in Sanford, NC. He was born on December 17 , 1921 in Lynn, Massachusetts. He and his late sister Ethel Robleski were raised by foster parents Frank and Bertha Dwinell in Lynn. Russell served in the US Army, Pacific Theater, World War II, stationed in Scofield Barracks, Hawaii on December 7, 1941. He lived in Macks Creek and Affton, Missouri, retiring from US Army Corps of Engineers Service Base in St. Louis. For the past twenty years he has lived part time with his daughters in Sanford, NC. Through the years he has enjoyed many volunteer activities expressing his love of children. He has been Santa as often as possible, Boy Scout leader, softball and bowling coach, president of local: PTA, St. Louis Blues “Blueliners” fan club, Lion’s Club, St. Phillip’s church council, and Pearl Harbor survivors. He was on the committee that built Senior Housing in Macks Creek, Missouri and was recently a loyal member of Care Givers Timeout group at Lee County’s Enrichment Center. In 1944, he was married to the late Mary Jane (Hack) and had three daughters, Margaret Manhardt (Philip) and Ruth May (John) all of Sanford, and the late Mary Frances Dreste (Tony) of St. Louis County. Grandchildren are John Manhardt , David Manhardt (Kristen), late Charles O. May, and April May Clark (Todd). He has five great grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren and many nieces. Visitation is scheduled for Tuesday January 31, 2:00-3:15 p.m. at Hedges-Scott Funeral Home in Macks Creek, Missouri with burial following immediately after at Macks Creek Cemetery with military honors. Contributions in lieu of flowers to: Caregiver Timeout Program, 1615 S. Third Street, Sanford, NC 27330 or Macks Creek Cemetery Fund, c/o Joe Moulder, 141 Bannister Hollow Drive, Macks Creek, MO 65786.