Eugene Arthur Smith

Eugene Arthur Smith was born in Wichita, KS on November 26, 1931, to Glenn Wallace Smith and Wanetta Myrtle (Page) Smith. Gene had two younger sisters, Wanetta Lee and Barbara “Bobbie” Ann.

When Gene’s father, Glenn, came home from WWII, he bought a neighborhood grocery store from his father, James. Gene had worked in the store delivering groceries on his bicycle for his grandfather during the war, and then continued to work in the store during summers and weekends for his dad.

Gene attended East High School in Wichita, KS, where he played baseball. Gene graduated in December of 1949 and joined the Marine Corp Reserves in January of 1950. His Reserve unit activated for Korea in July, and he served in various capacities on the west coast. While back home on leave, he was recruited by his uncle to pitch a game for the Cardwell Company fastpitch softball team. In the stands, there was a young lady by the name of Nadine Donham who was there to keep score for her dad, who was also on the Cardwell team. When Gene returned home the next year, he met up with Nadine again, and they started dating.

Gene began college in the spring of 1952 at Friends University. He graduated in 1956 with a double major in business and economics.

Gene and Nadine married in July of 1954. She was a nursing student at Wesley Medical Center. Because it was against the rules for a student to be married, Gene had to meet with Wesley’s Director of the School of Nursing. He received permission for Nadine to marry and live off campus. She continued her studies, and graduated from nursing school in 1955.

Gene and Nadine had their first daughter, Robin, in 1956. Shortly after, Gene started graduate school at Washington University in St. Louis, MO. When Gene’s mother passed away suddenly in 1958, they returned to Wichita where their second daughter, Enid was born, and two years later they added daughter Peggy to the family.

Gene and Nadine were both raised in church. Early in their marriage they were invited by friends to attend an evangelistic event in Oklahoma, where they both made the decision to accept Christ as their personal savior. This decision was life changing for them and the future of their family. Their faith became an integral part of their lives.

Gene remained in the Marine Corp Reserves where he was sent to communications school. He was promoted to Captain just before his unit was reactivated for Vietnam and he was called to active duty in January of 1966. The family was stationed at MCB Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, NC and then at Quantico in northern Virginia. Gene was shipped out for Vietnam in September of 1967 where he served 13 months in a communications battalion, while Nadine and the girls returned to Wichita to be close to family.

When Gene returned home from Vietnam in the fall of 1968, the family was stationed at MCB 29 Palms in 29 Palms, CA, where he served his final two years in the Marine Corp. Daughter Amy was born in June of 1970, just before the family moved back to Wichita.

Gene worked as an electrical contractor with Kindel Electric for many years and then eventually went out on his own, until he retired.

Gene and Nadine were active in their community and church. They were also active supporters of their daughters’ and eventually their grandchildren's sporting and music events, often traveling great distances to watch whatever activity was happening.

In October of 2014, Gene was privileged to travel to Washington, DC with the Kansas Honor Flight for military veterans of WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. This trip was a highlight for Gene.

Gene was an avid water skier and spent countless hours teaching family and friends how to water ski. He loved traveling, the Marine Corp League, watching Wranglers baseball, Botanica, Crown Uptown, the silent movies with the Wurlitzer organ, and was very active in Wesley Friends.

In 2019, Gene suffered a major medical event that required a move to Independent Living at Schowalter Villa in Hesston, KS. Nadine passed in October of 2023, and Gene was moved to intermediate care and then into memory care when his dementia required it. Gene had a slow but steady decline in his health until he passed quietly in his room on Monday, February 16, 2026.

Gene was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Nadine, his parents Glenn and Wanetta Smith, step-mother Gladys Smith, and sister Wanetta Burton.

He is survived by his daughters Robin McDonald of Albia, IA, Enid (Bruce) Penner of Whitewater, KS, Peggy (Mike) King of Hesston, KS and Amy (Scott) Vogt of Hesston, KS,15 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren and counting, sister Barbara Koch, brothers-in-law Claude Donham and Carl Donham, sister-in-law Loretta Donham, and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials can be made to Berean Academy and the Kansas Honor Flight.