Pekin, Illinois - Ralph F. Smith, 84, of 1618 Summit Drive died peacefully at 6:16 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, 2009, at his residence.
Ralph F. Smith was born Feb. 3, 1925, in Jacksonville, Ill. He was the 10th child of Alex and Katie Reeve Smith. He married Daryl Joan Horner on Sept. 12, 1953, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pekin, Ill.
Surviving are three children, Mark (Kayla) Smith of Arlington, Texas, Paul Smith of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Stacia (Dave) Gambetti of Pekin, Ill.; three grandchildren, Eric Smith of Huntington Beach, Calif., Danny Smith of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Halle Smith of Arlington, Texas; and two stepgrandchildren, Clayton and Baylee Gambetti, both of Pekin, Ill.
Preceding him in death were his parents, seven brothers and two sisters.
He was a graduate of Jacksonville High School and received his bachelor's degree from Illinois College and his master's degree from the University of Illinois.
Ralph had a career in journalism, public relations and marketing that included work in radio, television and the health-care field in Peoria and Bloomington. He worked as a news director for WIRL and Channel 19. He was an editorial writer, winning a number of awards.
Ralph was a charter member and past president of the Illinois News Broadcasters Association, past president of the Peoria/Tazewell Heart Association, board member of the Peoria and state Red Cross Blood programs, and actively worked with Sigma Delta Chi professional journalism society.
Ralph served as an escort at Pekin Hospital and provided transportation for cancer patients.
He was a former member of the Army/Navy Club of Washington, D.C., a member of the American Legion Post 44, a lifetime member of the Pekin Knights of Columbus, 3rd and 4th degrees, and a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pekin.
Ralph served as a rifleman in World War II during battles for Leyte and Okinawa in the Pacific, where he was wounded and received two Bronze Stars, one for meritorious service and one for heroic action. He also received the Purple Heart.
Ralph F. Smith was born Feb. 3, 1925, in Jacksonville, Ill. He was the 10th child of Alex and Katie Reeve Smith. He married Daryl Joan Horner on Sept. 12, 1953, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pekin, Ill.
Surviving are three children, Mark (Kayla) Smith of Arlington, Texas, Paul Smith of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Stacia (Dave) Gambetti of Pekin, Ill.; three grandchildren, Eric Smith of Huntington Beach, Calif., Danny Smith of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Halle Smith of Arlington, Texas; and two stepgrandchildren, Clayton and Baylee Gambetti, both of Pekin, Ill.
Preceding him in death were his parents, seven brothers and two sisters.
He was a graduate of Jacksonville High School and received his bachelor's degree from Illinois College and his master's degree from the University of Illinois.
Ralph had a career in journalism, public relations and marketing that included work in radio, television and the health-care field in Peoria and Bloomington. He worked as a news director for WIRL and Channel 19. He was an editorial writer, winning a number of awards.
Ralph was a charter member and past president of the Illinois News Broadcasters Association, past president of the Peoria/Tazewell Heart Association, board member of the Peoria and state Red Cross Blood programs, and actively worked with Sigma Delta Chi professional journalism society.
Ralph served as an escort at Pekin Hospital and provided transportation for cancer patients.
He was a former member of the Army/Navy Club of Washington, D.C., a member of the American Legion Post 44, a lifetime member of the Pekin Knights of Columbus, 3rd and 4th degrees, and a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pekin.
Ralph served as a rifleman in World War II during battles for Leyte and Okinawa in the Pacific, where he was wounded and received two Bronze Stars, one for meritorious service and one for heroic action. He also received the Purple Heart.
Pekin, Illinois - Ralph F. Smith, 84, of 1618 Summit Drive died peacefully at 6:16 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, 2009, at his residence.
Ralph F. Smith was born Feb. 3, 1925, in Jacksonville, Ill. He was the 10th child of Alex and Katie Reeve Smith. He married Daryl Joan Horner on Sept. 12, 1953, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pekin, Ill.
Surviving are three children, Mark (Kayla) Smith of Arlington, Texas, Paul Smith of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Stacia (Dave) Gambetti of Pekin, Ill.; three grandchildren, Eric Smith of Huntington Beach, Calif., Danny Smith of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Halle Smith of Arlington, Texas; and two stepgrandchildren, Clayton and Baylee Gambetti, both of Pekin, Ill.
Preceding him in death were his parents, seven brothers and two sisters.
He was a graduate of Jacksonville High School and received his bachelor's degree from Illinois College and his master's degree from the University of Illinois.
Ralph had a career in journalism, public relations and marketing that included work in radio, television and the health-care field in Peoria and Bloomington. He worked as a news director for WIRL and Channel 19. He was an editorial writer, winning a number of awards.
Ralph was a charter member and past president of the Illinois News Broadcasters Association, past president of the Peoria/Tazewell Heart Association, board member of the Peoria and state Red Cross Blood programs, and actively worked with Sigma Delta Chi professional journalism society.
Ralph served as an escort at Pekin Hospital and provided transportation for cancer patients.
He was a former member of the Army/Navy Club of Washington, D.C., a member of the American Legion Post 44, a lifetime member of the Pekin Knights of Columbus, 3rd and 4th degrees, and a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pekin.
Ralph served as a rifleman in World War II during battles for Leyte and Okinawa in the Pacific, where he was wounded and received two Bronze Stars, one for meritorious service and one for heroic action. He also received the Purple Heart.
Ralph F. Smith was born Feb. 3, 1925, in Jacksonville, Ill. He was the 10th child of Alex and Katie Reeve Smith. He married Daryl Joan Horner on Sept. 12, 1953, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pekin, Ill.
Surviving are three children, Mark (Kayla) Smith of Arlington, Texas, Paul Smith of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Stacia (Dave) Gambetti of Pekin, Ill.; three grandchildren, Eric Smith of Huntington Beach, Calif., Danny Smith of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Halle Smith of Arlington, Texas; and two stepgrandchildren, Clayton and Baylee Gambetti, both of Pekin, Ill.
Preceding him in death were his parents, seven brothers and two sisters.
He was a graduate of Jacksonville High School and received his bachelor's degree from Illinois College and his master's degree from the University of Illinois.
Ralph had a career in journalism, public relations and marketing that included work in radio, television and the health-care field in Peoria and Bloomington. He worked as a news director for WIRL and Channel 19. He was an editorial writer, winning a number of awards.
Ralph was a charter member and past president of the Illinois News Broadcasters Association, past president of the Peoria/Tazewell Heart Association, board member of the Peoria and state Red Cross Blood programs, and actively worked with Sigma Delta Chi professional journalism society.
Ralph served as an escort at Pekin Hospital and provided transportation for cancer patients.
He was a former member of the Army/Navy Club of Washington, D.C., a member of the American Legion Post 44, a lifetime member of the Pekin Knights of Columbus, 3rd and 4th degrees, and a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pekin.
Ralph served as a rifleman in World War II during battles for Leyte and Okinawa in the Pacific, where he was wounded and received two Bronze Stars, one for meritorious service and one for heroic action. He also received the Purple Heart.
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