Franklin McCoy Smith, 77, of Bloom Center, died at 10:29 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2004, at Mary Rutan Hospital.
Born March 5, 1927, in Bloomfield Township, a son of the late Herman Edwin and Ruth Edna McCoy Smith, he married Patricia Lou West in Yellow Springs on Feb. 14, 1954, and she preceded him in death Feb. 16, 2001.
He is surived by three daughters, Pam (Mike) Thomas of Bloom Center, Julie (Jeff) Gressner of Winter Haven, Fla., and Lisa (John) Dickerson of Bellefontaine; four brothers, John E. Smith of Hamilton, Joseph R. Smith of Upperville, Va., Nevin R. Smith of Bellefontaine and Robert E. Smith of Quincy; two sisters, Sarah M. Miller of Huntsville and Barbara A. Kinninger of Sidney; and seven grandchildren, Drew Thomas, Meredith Thomas, Monica Gressner, Charity Gressner, Siera Dickerson, Bryce Dickerson and Eryn Dickerson.
A self-employed painting contractor, he was a member of the American Legion Miami Valley Post 652, the Village Pantry Coffee Club in DeGraff, the Archeological Society and the Logan County Historical Society. He was also a Master Mason and member of the Jackson Center Lodge 458, Free and Accepted Masons, attaining 32nd Degree Mason status as a member of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Valley of Dayton. The lifelong resident of Bloom Center and 1945 graduate of Washington High School at Lewistown was often referred to as the "Mayor of Bloom Center." He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps after high school at the end of World War II.
Calling hours are Friday from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Rexer-Riggin-Madden Funeral Home in DeGraff and a Masonic service follows at 8 p.m. Services begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday with Denny Brown officiating, and burial follows at the Highland Memorial Cemetery, West Liberty, where the Logan County Honor Guard will conduct military honors.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Logan County Historical Society.
