GILTNER — Theron Smith, 87, of Giltner, died Wednesday, Nov. 10, at his home.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Giltner United Methodist Church. The Rev. Larry Orvis will officiate. Burial will be in the Giltner Cemetery.

Higby Mortuary of Aurora is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Smith was born in western Nebraska on Jan. 8, 1906, to Erwin and Mae (Loomis) Smith. He grew up in western Nebraska, where he attended and later taught school. He later graduated from Kearney State College.

On April 12, 1936, he married Mabel Barton in Chappell. She died on May 30, 1987.

After their wedding, they moved to Giltner, where he taught high school in the 1940s and ran a grocery store until 1974.

He was a grave digger at the Giltner Cemetery for many years.

Mr. Smith was a member of the Giltner United Methodist Church and belonged to the Giltner Lions Club.

Survivors include one son, Ross Smith of Palm Harbor, Fla.; one brother, Charles Smith of Lincoln; two sisters, Alice Harrison and Olive Porter, both of Salt Lake City, Utah; three grandsons and three great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife and two brothers, Seaton and Julius.

The Grand Island Independent 123(138):13 Friday, November 12, 1993