Edward Townsley SMITH

1930 - 2012

SMITH

Edward Townsley entered into eternal life Monday morning, February 27, 2012 at St. John's Hospital, Springfield, Illinois. He was born to Edward Minish Smith and Linna Townsley Smith, on September 27, 1930, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Edward married Shirley Anne Caldwell April 27, 1957 at St. Matthew Catholic Church, Norwood, OH. He is survived by his wife and a son, Edward C. Smith. Edward graduated St. Xavier High School in 1948. During the Korean Conflict, he interrupted college to join the U. S. Navy (1950-54) and was honorably discharged. Edward was named Company Honor Man upon graduating Great Lakes Naval Training Center. Resuming college in 1954, he graduated cum laud May 1956 with a BA in business administration and accounting from Xavier University. During the '60s and '70s, Edward held administrative positions with several nationally-known companies in Cincinnati, OH, St. Louis and Kansas City, MO. While in Cincinnati, Edward was honored as Jaycee of the Year and as a Kentucky Colonel. He relocated to Springfield, Illinois and in 1976, joined the Capital Development Board, State of Illinois, holding the positions of Director of Administration and Director of Construction. He was honored by the CDB Board for his service as Acting Executive Director (1982-1983). Edward volunteered for St. John's Hospital Pastoral Care Department for 25 years. He was co-founder of the Franciscan Fraternity of the Holy Spirit, OFS, in 1981. Edward was a faithful member of the Church of the Little Flower, Springfield, IL for forty years. A memorial Mass will be celebrated by Rev. Peter Chabot at Sorrowful Mother Chapel, Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center, 5440 Moeller Avenue, Norwood, OH, at 11 a.m., Saturday, April 28. Interment will follow at Spring Grove Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Springfield Right to Life, 323 E. Monroe Street. Springfield, Illinois 62712.