Hugh DeWayne Smith

Hugh DeWayne Smith, 93, of Kokomo, loving father and faithful husband went to be with our Lord and Savior May 30, 2017. Born April 8, 1924, to Orville and Hazel (Whitehead) Smith, he was always a handful. On March 13, 1943 he married the love of his life, Dolly Mae (Pine), who survives. They were married 74 years. Hugh graduated from Kokomo High School in 1943 where he started on the football team. He loved sharing stories from his high school days. He went directly into the Navy where he studied engineering at the Great Lakes Naval Academy. He served proudly during WWII on the USS Suamico oil tanker of the 7th fleet. He was in every major battle including Iwo Jima. Hugh was self-employed as a floor covering installer, and a member of the Morning Star Church. Hugh is also survived by two sons, Stephen (Linda) Smith of Saraland, AL; Michael (Debra) Smith of New Port Rickey, FL; and daughter Susan Wills of Kokomo. Grandchildren, who affectionately called him Papaw, are Brian (Carissa) Smith, Germany; Kimberly (Stephen) Ridgeway, Saraland, AL; Michelle (Isabelle Plante) Smith, St. Paul, MN; Kari (Joe) Higgins and Kelli Ogle, Kokomo. Great-grandchildren are Haley Plemons, McKenzie Plemons, Celie Jackson, Ezra Ogle, Abby Higgins, Gabriel Smith, Max Higgins, Stephen Ridgeway, and Samara Hendrickson. Great-great-grandchildren are Brody Hamilton and Ralayia Bryan; a brother Ronald Smith of Frankfort, IN and a sister, Winifred Snyder, of Kokomo. Hugh was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers Doyle and Gary Smith and sister Gloria Mae McCain. The family would like to extend a special thank-you to special neighbors Tom and Sandy Maddox, Great Lakes Hospice, and the nurses and aides at Wellbrook. Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, June 3, 2017 at Ellers Mortuary Webster Street Chapel, 3400 South Webster Street, Kokomo. Pastor Greg Reed will officiate. Entombment with military rites by the U.S. Navy and the Kokomo Military Rites Team will follow at Sunset Memory Garden Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 11:00 – 1:00 Saturday at the mortuary. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Great Lakes Hospice.