 Donald W. Smith, age 74, of Ithaca, died Wednesday morning, July 8, 2009, at his
residence, per his wishes and surrounded by his loving family. He fought cancer
with determination, courage and a positive attitude, inspiring us to face life's
challenges in a similar manner.
Mr. Smith was born in Ithaca, the son of the
late Nestor and Myrtle B. Smith. Prior to retirement, he was a machinist at
Emerson Electric for 28 years and a foreman at Ithaca Gun for 15 years. He
enjoyed doing yard work and tending to his beautiful rose bushes. He was a
graduate of Ithaca High School, Class of 1953.
He was a loving husband,
father, and grandfather. All who knew him will miss his kindness, optimistic
outlook on life, and his terrific sense of humor. Don's outgoing, caring
personality, generosity, and concern for others leaves behind a legacy for all
who knew him.
Survivors include his loving wife of 49 years, Mary Lou (nee:
Corey) Smith; six children, William (Nancy) Fisher; Thomas Smith, Debbie (Jeff)
Philip, Robert (Diane) Smith, Judy Hayes, and Ed (Diane) Smith; several very
special grandchildren and great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Nancy Myers;
several nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his daughter, Barbara Krager;
and a brother, Richard Smith.
Funeral Service will be at 11:00 a.m. on
Saturday (July 11, 2009) at the Herson Funeral Home, located at the Family
Service Center, 110 S. Geneva Street, Ithaca. Burial will follow in East Lawn
Cemetery, Ithaca. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. in
the Community Room at Titus Towers. Memorials may be made to Hospicare, 173 East
King Road, Ithaca.
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Paul Wilhelm Beck, 93, of 201 Savage Farm Rd., passed away at Kendal at Ithaca
on May 9th, 2009. Born in Crosby, MN on 28 March 1916, he was the son of Saima
Karin Maki and Edvard Wilhelm Beck, who emigrated from Finland circa 1910.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Ethel (Heikkinen) Beck; daughter,
Karen; and son, Larry and wife, Gay Johnson and grandchildren, Jared and Micah;
nephew, Frank Westerlund and wife, Fereshtah and their son, Cyrus. Dorothy
Duhant, Agnes Martin, Taimi Wirta, Agnes Ness, Dan and Paul Maki are cousins who
live in the US and numerous relatives reside in Finland. Paul was predeceased by
his sister, Agnes and her husband; and Paul's lifelong friend, Wendell
Westerlund.
Paul grew up with Finnish as his first language and learned
English when he began Kindergarten. He served in the CCC's during the Great
Depression where he learned some new colorful English expressions. Languages
were a facility which he employed professionally, translating Dutch and Russian
technical papers for his research. He was educated at the University of
Minnesota, Armour Institute, and the University of Chicago and received a Ph.D.
from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1952. He was employed by Sinclair
Oil where he held patents for odorless paint solvents, and North American
Phillips where he worked to develop early ceramic magnetic computer memory. He
taught military mathematics to future Army officers during World War II and
physical chemistry at Western Connecticut State University. He retired at 70 and
moved to Ithaca where he was a member of the Unitarian Church and the
Fingerlakes Finns. Paul's hobbies included ham radio and the computer.
Interment will be in Ironton, MN in a family plot. There will be a private
family gathering to remember Paul. Bangs Funeral Home will be assisting the
family.
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Elizabeth A. (Betty) Saul died peacefully in her sleep on April 14, 2009 and
joined her beloved husband, Frank, in God's promise of eternal life after
death.
A resident of Ithaca for fifty years, Betty was born on November 1,
1918 in Highland Falls, NY, the eldest daughter of George and Elizabeth Carroll
Edwards. Following graduation from Highland Falls High School, Betty attended
NYU. Betty married Frank at West Point in June 1943 and while Frank served in
Europe during World War II, Betty volunteered with the American Red
Cross.
After the war, Betty and Frank lived in Boston, where Betty studied at
Lesley College and was on a work/study program at MIT while Frank received an MS
from Harvard. They then lived in Philadelphia and Syracuse before moving to
Ithaca in 1959.
Betty always claimed that happiness was raising three sons in
a small college town and she devoted her life to her family. In addition to
insuring that her sons developed a strong moral foundation, Betty and Frank made
sure that their boys were active in much of what Ithaca had to offer: scouting,
pee wee hockey, sailing, music lessons, and studying, in addition to the
numerous family trips to Europe and throughout the US.
Outside her family,
Betty was either the chair, president or member in good standing of the Ithaca
Women's Club, the Book Review Club, the Campus Club, the Women's Republican
Club, the League of Women's Voters and the Ladies Auxiliary to Sage Infirmary.
Betty and her family alternated their time between St. Catherine of Siena
Catholic and St. John Episcopal Churches. Betty particularly enjoyed her 19
years working at the Ithaca High School library from 1969 to 1988.
Betty is
survived by her children, George K. (Sheila) Saul of Seattle, Francis W. Saul
Jr. of Ft. Myers, FL, and Beau (Valerie) Saul of Ithaca. She is also survived by
seven grandchildren, Francis III, Matt, Kelly, Christopher, William, Luke and
Ryan; and by her sister, Georgette Lambert and several nieces and nephews. Betty
was predeceased by her husband, Frank and her parents, George and
Elizabeth.
Graveside services will be celebrated by Msgr. Donahue, US Army
Chaplain, on Monday, April 20, 2009, at 1:30 p.m. at the United States Military
Academy, West Point, NY. Those wishing to remember Betty are asked to consider
memorial donations to St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 302 S. Catherine's
Circle, Ithaca, NY 14850; or Hospicare, 172 E. King Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850.
Arrangements are by the Bangs Funeral Home.
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