Mr. Earl Raymond Smitherman, 85, of Parkersburg, West Virginia, departed this life at St. Joseph Hospital surrounded by his family, on Father’s Day, June 21, 2009, to be with his Heavenly Father.
He was born Feb. 2, 1924, at Peoria in the Beaver Dam Township of Watauga County, N.C., a son of the late Harve Martin and Burlie L. Millsaps Smitherman, formerly of Sugar Grove, N.C.
Mr. Smitherman retired from the American Viscose with 30 years of service and GE Plastics with 10 years of service. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II having served on the U.S.S. Liddle, a Destroyer Escort in the Pacific. He was a former member of the VFW, the American Legion and the Woodsmen of the World.
He also served as a volunteer fireman at Camden Avenue in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Mr. Smitherman loved life and all of God’s creations; the mountains, rivers, oceans, beaches, all of the outdoors, boating, fishing, hiking and camping. He loved working in the garden and yard with hard working hands now put to rest.
Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Beulah Wines Smitherman; three sons, Bobby R. (Janet) Smitherman of Gastonia, N.C., Michael D. (Karen) Smitherman of Smith Mountain Lake, Va. and Joseph Mark (Kelta) Smitherman of Belleville, West Virginia; step-children, Butch (Nancy) Brandt of Vincent, Ohio; Charles (Melanie) Brandt of Marietta, Ohio; and Sue (Tom) Eden of Vienna, West Virginia; 19 grandchildren, Randall Smitherman, Michelle Matthews, Kristie McMillen, Courtney McLain, Francie Smitherman, Lisa Perkins, Mick Wenmoth, Todd Wenmoth, Lori Wenmoth, Savannah Abbott, Tom Brandt, Samantha Stealey, Debora Deem, Tonda Deem, Tim Eden, Tom Eden, Charmel Wesel, Christopher Brandt and Chad Brandt; 33 great-grandchildren; and 11 great-great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Wiley James Smitherman; and his sister, Margaret Kathleen Childress; and two grandchildren, Shari Smith and William “Buddy” Brandt.
The funeral service will be held Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Kimes Funeral Home, 521 5th Street, Parkersburg, West Virginia, with Pastor Ryan Brooks officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memory Gardens with military rites provided by the American Legion Post #15 of Parkersburg.
Online condolence messages may be sent to the family by visiting www.kimesfh.com.
Kimes Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.