- Visitation
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Tuesday February 28, 2023
First Christian Church, West Salem, IL.
- Service
11:00 a.m.
Tuesday February 28, 2023
First Christian Church, West Salem, IL.
- Full Obituary
Lowell Earl Smith, 99, formerly of West Salem, IL passed away Tuesday, February 21, 2023, in Effingham, IL. He was born November 21, 1923, to Dewey Lee and Sylvia Grace (Byram) Smith on the family farm in Richland County, IL near Berryville, IL.
Lowell served his country during WWII mostly in the 67th Field Hospital, 9th Army in the European Theater. He was a driver in the motor pool and had the privilege of driving Bob Hope and Jerry Cologna during their USO tour. Lowell entered the Army Air Corp in 1943 and returned from Europe in 1946 on the USS Smith Victory. He was a proud veteran who loved his country and was a 77-year member of the American Legion McCormick Post 658. Lowell enjoyed many annual reunions of the 67th Field Hospital and had the opportunity to tour the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C.
When he returned from Europe, he began his own business with a surplus Army Jeep and a hay baler. Lowell hired his services to local farmers.
He married Betty Lou Shelby on August 9, 1949, and moved to West Salem. Lowell worked as a U.S. Postal Clerk, parts manager for Gaither Ford dealership and a carpenter for Mt. Carmel Sand and Gravel. He longed to be his own boss, so he purchased the grocery store on the corner of Church and North Broadway in West Salem, Lowell’s Grocery. Lowell said he “never worked harder for less money.” In the early 1960’s he began his career in the insurance industry as an agent with Country Companies. He purchased the West Salem Insurance Agency and became a licensed real estate agent. Lowell sold the business in 1990. He was a long time Rotarian and served as the Village Treasurer for several years.
He and Betty were married for 43 years and raised three daughters, Lisa (Larry) Micenheimer, Kathy (Jim) McNeely and Jane Moore, who survive. Also surviving are three grandchildren, Andy (Emma) Micenheimer, Tyler (Erin) Micenheimer, and Haley (Reed) Hansen. Lowell lived to enjoy three great-grandchildren who visited often and always made him smile. He is also survived by his twin sister, Lela Williams, who lives in Mt. Pleasant, MI and his sister-in-law, Ann Smith of Olathe, KS.
After Betty passed away in 1993, he married Frances Hardy Gardner. They lived in Fairfield and enjoyed life with her family, Sharon (Jim) Miller and Rob Gardner. Frances passed away in 2002.
In 2004, Lowell moved back to West Salem and married Amy Ruth Rice Bosecker in 2007. They shared a home on North Broadway until her passing in 2015. They enjoyed many visits with Ruth’s children, Linda (Don) Beehn, Tom (Wanda) Bosecker and Ed ( Debra) Bosecker.
In addition to his wives, he was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Russell, Dewey Junior and Tommy; his sister, Pluma Litherland and his son-in-law, Kevin Moore.
A Celebration of Life will be on Tuesday February 28, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Christian Church in West Salem with a visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. Graveside services with Military honors will follow at the Moravian Cemetery in West Salem. Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church in West Salem, IL where Lowell was a member, Sunday School Teacher, Elder and board Treasurer for many years.
Ingram Meridith Funeral Home, West Salem, IL.
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