George Henry Smith

Funeral Services for youthful Accident Victim, George H. Smith, Saturday; Interment Made in Lusk Cemetery

Last rites were conducted for the late George H. Smith, youthful victim of an automobile accident at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon, December 17th, from the chapel of Peet Funeral Home with Rev. Otha B. Holcomb, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Lusk officiating.

During the service a mixed quartet composed of former schoolmates of the deceased, Miss Donna Kay Osborn, Mrs. William H. Smith, Jr., Howard DeCastro and Ronnie Jennewein, sang "Rock of Ages" and "Beyond The Sunset" with Mrs. Judson P. Watson providing the organ accompaniment.

Interment was made in the Lusk cemetery with the remains being borne to their final resting place by Dick Seymour, Brush, Colo.; Ronnie Podolak, Bud Reed, James Sturtevant, William Stockwell and Leroy Wilson.

George Henry Smith, a son of Albert M. and Violet May Smith, was born April 20, 1937, in Lusk, Wyo., and died on Wednesday December 14, 1955 from injuries received in a car accident west of Sterling, Colorado. He was 18 years, seven months and 24 days of age.

He lived all of his life in Lusk with the exception of a few years spent on a ranch north of Lusk on the Cheyenne River.

He was enrolled in the first grade in the elementary school of Lusk and received his education in the public schools of Lusk. He was graduated with the class of 1955 from the Niobrara County High School. While attending high school he participated in basketball and track, and was also a member of the school band.

He enrolled in Northeast Junior College at Sterling, Colo. in September, 1955, where he was majoring in physical education and participating in college sports and other activities.

Besides his parents, George is survived by six brothers and three sisters. They are: John Smith of Stockton, Calif.; Delbert, Charles, Frank and Douglas Smith of Lusk, Wyo.; and James Smith of Newcastle, Wyo.; sisters include Mrs. Clarabelle Blaney, and Miss Mary Smith of Lusk, Wyo., and Mrs. Josephine Groom of Milton Freewater, Oregon; several nieces and nephews and numerous other relatives.

The day that young Smith met his death, Coach Roy R. Edwards of Northeastern Junior College at Sterling, Colo., had written and mailed the following letter to the youth's parents. The letter was received last Thursday by Mr. and Mrs. Albert Smith.

December 14, 1955
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Smith:

Roy R. Edwards
Coach

The Lusk Herald
December 15, 1955
George Smith Killed in Car Wreck Wed.

George Smith, 18, son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Smith of Lusk, and a student at the Sterling, Colorado Junior College was killed in an automobile accident near Sterling, Colorado about 5:00 a.m. Wednesday morning when the vehicle he was driving skidded into a concrete abutment after hitting an icy spot on the road.

Smith and another college student are reported to have gone to a drilling rig south of Sterling for some core samples. They were returning to Sterling at the time of the accident. The other occupant of the car was seriously injured.

At the Herald's press time Wednesday funeral arrangements had not yet been made. Walther Doctor of the Peet Mortuary and brothers, Delbert and Chuck Smith left for Sterling Wednesday morning to return the body to Lusk.

Besides his parents George is survived by six brothers and three sisters. They are: Delbert, Chuck, Frank, Douglas, Jim and John Smith and sisters Mary, Clarabelle Blaney, and Josephine Groom.

George was an outstanding basketball player for Niobrara County High School last year and graduated with the NCHS class of 1955.

The Lusk Herald
December 22, 1955
Funeral Services For George Smith Held in Lusk Sat.

Concluding rites were held Saturday at 2:00 p.m. for George Henry Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Smith of Lusk with Peet Funeral Home in charge. Rev. Otha B. Holcomb, pastor of the First Baptist church officiated. Interment was made in the Lusk cemetery.

George Smith was killed in an automobile accident near Sterling the morning of Wednesday, Dec. 14. He was attending Northeast Junior College on a basketball scholarship.

Miss Donna Kay Osborn, Mrs. Kay Smith, Ronnie Jennewein and Howard DeCastro sang "Rock of Ages" and "Beyond the Sunset" accompanied by Mrs. Judson P. Watson at the organ.

Casket bearers were James Sturtevant, William Stockwell, LeRoy Willson, Bud Reed, Dick Seymour and Ronald Podolak.

George Henry Smith, son of Albert M. and Violet May Smith, was born April 20, 1937 in Lusk and died Wednesday, December 14, 1955 from injuries received in a car accident west of Sterling, Colo. At the time of his demise he was 18 years old.

He lived all his life in Lusk with the exception of a few years spent on a ranch north of Lusk on the Cheyenne River.

He received his education in the public schools of Lusk. He was graduated with the class of 1955 from the Niobrara County High School. While attending high school he was very active in basketball and track and was a member of the school band.

He enrolled in Northeast Junior College at Sterling, Colo., in Sept. 1955 where he was majoring in physical education.

Besides his parents he leaves six brothers and three sisters. They are John Smith, Stockton, Calif.; Delbert, Charles, Frank and Douglas, all of Lusk, and James Smith, Newcastle.

Sisters include Mrs. Clarabelle Blaney, and Miss Mary Smith of Lusk, and Mrs. Josephine Groom of Milton Freewater, Oregon; besides several nieces and nephews and numerous other relatives.

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