Bedford Times-Press (Bedford, Iowa), Thursday, July 3, 1958, p. 8
Mrs. Willard Smith Buried At Hopkins
Funeral services for Mrs. Willard Smith, who died at her home in Bedford, Monday, June 23, were held at the Bedford Methodist church Friday afternoon. Rev. Anthony Blankers, pastor of the church officiated. Burial in Hopkins cemetery.
Julia Mary Townsend was born August 16, 1885, the daughter of Alexander and Mary Elizabeth Townsend, on a farm near Hopkins, Missouri and died at the age of 72 years, ten months, seven days.
On December 25, 1904, she was married to Willard H. Smith. To them ten children were born, four sons and six daughters. A son, Donald, passed away shortly after his birth, and two of the daughters, Ruby Esther and Lucile Mary died at the age of ten years. Her surviving children are Mrs. Helen Spencer, Bedford; Kirk Smith, Auburn, New York; Carl Smith, Pocatello, Idaho; Galen Smith, Montpelier, Idaho; Mrs. Alice Tibbetts, Pickering; Mrs. Olive Wyckoff, Des Moines; Mrs. Iva Ruth Sanders, Bedford.
After their marriage, Mrs. Smith and her husband made their home on a farm south of Bedford near the Iowa-Missouri line and near the Hazel Dell School and church. After living in this community 40 years, they moved to Bedford where they have since resided. A very happy event in the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Smith was the celebration of their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 1954.
Mrs. Smith united with the First Methodist church of Hopkins in 1912 and in October of 1951, she with her husband transferred their membership to the Bedford Methodist church.
Surviving with the husband, Willard H. Smith and the children, are one brother, Joseph W. Townsend of Creston; 30 grandchildren; fourteen great grandchildren.