Ronald Smith

     Ronald Smith, age 92 of George, Iowa, died Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at the Good Samaritan Society in George, IA.

     Visitation will be held Friday, November 22, 2024, from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. with the family present from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Jurrens Funeral Home of George.

     Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, November 23, 2024, at the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church in George with Rev. Dale Lint, officiating. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Lawn Cemetery at George, IA.

     Ronald James Smith was born October 28, 1932, in George, IA, the son of Ralph and Mae (Veenker) Smith. Ronald grew up on a farm south of George where he attended country school and later graduated from George High School in 1950. He was united in marriage to Bonnie Ann Stubbe on May 27, 1952, at Hope Reformed Church of George, and they were married for 72½ years. They made their home in George and Ronald worked for the elevator and the Mobil gas station. In 1957 he purchased the Standard Oil business which later became Smith Oil. Ronald made many friends with local farmers and business owners, providing exceptional service over the years. After 45 years of owning and operating Smith Oil he retired in 2003. Ronald enjoyed playing cribbage, St. Louis Cardinals baseball, and Iowa Hawkeye sports. He was an umpire for college and high school baseball games for over 50 years. He was the coach for the “George Town Team” for 25 years and also for the GLR High School baseball team. Ronald served several years on the George School Board of Education. He and Bonnie enjoyed taking family vacations and multiple vacations with her brother, Harlyn and Marlene; they also enjoyed traveling to visit their children. Ronald was an active member of the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church in George, serving as a past Trustee, Elder, and sang at funerals, weddings and in the Chancel Choir that included many Christmas Eve cantatas. He was a member of the Otter Valley Country Club where he enjoyed weekly golf league and also bowled in a league for many years. This past Wednesday afternoon, Ronald died at the age of 92 at the George Good Samaritan Home.

     He is survived by his wife, Bonnie of George, IA; their children, Mary (Wesley) Rowden of Sioux City, IA; Ruth Smith of George, IA; and Randy (Lenda) Smith of Monkey Island, OK; two granddaughters, Kathryn Rowden of Sioux City, IA and Erica Smith of Hutto, TX; and one great-granddaughter, Elizabeth Rowden-Harstad, of Sioux City, IA; two sisters, Audrey (Norman) Grooters of Vancouver, WA and Carol (Judson) Schrick of Decorah, IA; sisters-in-law, Elvie Smith and Marlene Stubbe of George, IA and Joyce (Stephen) Hartley of Little Canada, MN, along with many nieces and nephews.

     He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Mae; son-in-law, Robert “Bob” Newton, Jr.; his siblings, Roger (Marilyn) Smith; Muriel (Kenneth) Grooters; Norman (Janice) Smith; Jerry Smith; Eleanor Smith in infancy; and Charles Smith; brothers-in-law, Harlyn Stubbe and Roger Stubbe; nephews, Curtis Smith and Michael Smith; and niece, Laura Stubbe.