Gurnie Smith

Gurnie Odell Smith, age 87 of Barbee’s Grove Road, Oakboro, passed away on August 21, 2010 at Lutheran Home of Albemarle. The family will receive friends on Sunday, August 22, 2010 from 6 to 8 at Hartsell Funeral Home, Albemarle. At other times the family will be at the home of granddaughter, Leah Swink, 24951 Barbee’s Grove Road, Oakboro. The funeral service will be on Monday, August 23, 2010 at 11 am at Barbee’s Grove Baptist Church, Oakboro, with a 30 minute state. Rev. Ron Honeycutt will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Military honors will be conducted by Stanly County DAV, Chapter 12. Born in Stanly County on November 29, 1922, he was a son of the late Chester Dewey Smith and the late Nellie Mae Dick Smith. He was also preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Dorothy Allene Burgess Smith in July. He was a member of Barbee’s Grove Baptist Church, Oakboro and a retired carpenter. He was a member of the VFW and a life member of Stanly County DAV, Chapter 12 where he enjoyed serving as a member of the color guard. He served in the US Navy during WW II in the Pacific Theatre. He received the Purple Heart for combat injury during the Guam Invasion. Other awards and medals he received are Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with 4 Bronze Stars, Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, Combat Action Ribbon, Philippine Liberation Medal with 2 Bronze Stars, Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal and Naval Reserve Ribbon. He is survived by his son, Timothy Odell Smith and wife Diane of Oakboro; three grandchildren, Michael Smith, Cheri Milano and husband, Rob, and Leah Swink and husband, Jeffrey all of Oakboro; great- granddaughter, Melanie Allene Swink; brothers, Marvin Smith of Locust, and Cecil Smith of Albemarle; sisters, Geneva Foreman of Oakboro, Laverna Kimrey of Albemarle, and Wilma Freeman of Charlotte. Memorials may be made to Barbee’s Grove Baptist Church, PO Box 679, Oakboro, NC 28129; or to Stanly County DAV, Chapter 12, PO Box 12, Albemarle, NC 28002.