Joseph Smith
Godfrey | Save
Joseph C. Smith, 84 died at 5:04 a.m. on Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at Alton Memorial Hospital. He was born December 20, 1926 in Alton, the son of the late Henry and Bessie Smith. He served in the U.S. Army from 1945-1947. He graduated in 1951 from Shurtleff College, where he played basketball, with a B.S. in Business Administration. He was in Management with the Olin Corporation in East Alton from 1951-1957. He was the manager-systems Analyst with the Olin Corporate headquarters in New York City from 1957-1963. Most recently he was President and CEO of J.C. Smith Construction, Inc. in Godfrey. Besides a Builder and Land Developer Mr. Smith was an avid boater the longest member of Upper Alton Baptist Church, served on the Salvation Army Board, as well as being a member of the Wood River Masonic Lodge 1062 AF & AM. In 1998, he anonymously donated the face of the bluff on the River Road for the Piasa Bird display. On August 7th, 1949, in Alton he married LaVerne Gelzinnis and she survives. Also surviving is one daughter; Barbara Eckhard and her husband Robert of Godfrey, three grandchildren; Ryan, Kyle and Josh Aulabaugh, he was preceded in death by two brothers; Charles and Henry Smith. Visitation will be from 4:00-8:00 p.m. on Friday, June 10, 2011 at Gent Funeral Home in Alton with Masonic services by Wood River Masonic Lodge 1062 AF & AM at 6:00 p.m. Funeral services will be Saturday, June 11th at 10:00 a.m. at Upper Alton Baptist Church with Reverend Brad Donoho to officiate. Burial will be at Upper Alton Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Upper Alton Baptist Church or Piasa Bird Maintenance Fund c/o City of Alton. Additional information and online guest book may be found at www.gentfuneralhome.com
Gent Funeral Home
