NEWTOWN – Michael Joseph Smith, age 63, of rural Veedersburg, Indiana, died unexpectedly Thursday, May 20, 2010.
He was born in Trenton, N.J. on Sept. 8, 1946 the son of Raub M. and Barbara Lenhardt Smith, who preceded him in death. Mike graduated from Notre Dame High School and then Trenton Technical School, Trenton, N.J.
Michael is survived by his wife, Diana McClure Smith and a daughter, Michele Lynn Smith (Timothy Tolley), a sister Barbara (Kendall) Malinowski, two brothers Raub (Janet) Smith and John (Loretta) Smith, step-sons Giancarlo (Kathleen) Battaglini and Marc (Christina) Battaglini, grandchildren: Zachary Smith, Amanda Jo and Timothy Tolley, Samantha, Faith, William and James Battaglini. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
A U.S. Army veteran, he served in Vietnam with the U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers, 159th Heavy Construction Group as a Communications Specialist. Following his military service, he operated Westbrook dairy farm with his two brothers in Sherburne for 23 years. Most recently, Mike was employed by Ribco Fabricating in Veedersburg, Ind. Additionally he operated the McClure family farms in Richland Township, Indiana since 1996.
Mike was Post Adjutant of Quigle-Palin Post #394 of the American Legion. He had assisted in many ways with the Boy Scouts of America Pack 218 and was an active member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Covington, Ind. He loved farming, being outdoors, his wife, family and especially his grandchildren.
The family will be receiving guests at Family and Friends Funeral Home of Wingate, Ind. Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Covington, with Fr. David Rasner officiating. Military graveside services will follow in Newtown Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be directed to The Society For The Propagation Of The Faith, Rev. Msgr. John E. Kozar, 366 Fifth Ave., N.Y. NY, 10117-0154, Newtown Cemetery c/o Robert Quirk, Treas., 3219 E. New Richmond Rd. Wingate, IN 47994 or Quigle – Palin American Legion Post in memory of Mike to P.O. Box Newtown, IN 47969.