Harold P. Smith, age 92, died Tuesday, February 5, 2013 in Hugoton, Kansas.

Funeral Services were held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, February 9, 2013 at the First United Methodist Church in Clayton, New Mexico with Rev. Jay Jones, pastor officiating. Burial followed in the Clayton Memorial Cemetery by Hass Funeral Directors of Clayton.

Harold P. Smith was born July 22, 1920 at the family homestead in Stead, NM to George Washington Smith and Ada Anne (Winchester) Smith. He was the last of 6 children for the Smith family. Harold served in the Asiatic Pacific theatre during World War II as a Surgical Technician with the Medical Detachment of the 123rd Infantry Regiment, Illinois 33rd division. He served in both New Guinea and the Philippines during combat time. He worked with the surgeon at the aid station, sterilized instruments, gave shots and blood plasma; tagged patients; assisted with emergency surgeries; and dressed wounds. Sgt. (T4) Smith was wounded in action near Galiano, La Union Province, Luzon, on March 30, 1945 and awarded the Purple Heart. He was awarded a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster for wounds received in action near Galiano, La Union Province, Luzon on April 1, 1945. Prior to coming back stateside, Tech Sgt. Smith was also pinned with the Silver Star, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with 1 Campaign Star and the Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon with 2 Campaign Stars. He also received the Good conduct medal, rifle marksman and a medical badge. Upon his discharge on Nov. 20, 1945, he returned home to Clayton, NM. Harold lived most of his life in Felt, OK. He was an active member of the Felt United Methodist Church for many years. He graduated from Felt High School in 1940. His favorite subjects in school were basketball and girls, not necessarily in that order. Harold received a sports scholarship to attend Panhandle A & M college where he played football for one semester, until he enlisted in the Army, thus ending his college days. He married Wanda Marie Earle on June 10, 1950 in Tucumcari, NM. Harold and Wanda made their home in Felt, OK, where he worked as a farm labourer and ran the Mercantile store in Felt. The couple had 3 of their 4 children during this time period. They left Felt in 1958 moving to Clayton, NM where Harold worked as a carpenter until 1966. The last of their four children was born in Clayton while the family lived there. In 1966 the family relocated back to Felt where Harold worked for the Felt Public Schools as Custodian and Bus Driver. After he retired from the School, Harold and Wanda moved back to Clayton, NM in 1986. They made woodcrafts and traveled all over to different craft shows for several years. In Oct. 2012, they moved to Hugoton, KS for health reasons. His time with the Felt Schools were some of his most memorable to him. He had many stories about students that he liked telling in his later years. He enjoyed working around the students and over the years was known to haul generations of students on his bus route. He worked at the school for 20 years with the responsibility of not only the school & gym, but numerous teacherages as well. He often joked that he was a man of many trades, master of none. Maintaining the school swimming pool was one of his worst headaches. He was known for joking and kidding around with students as well as his singing while driving the bus. His favorite ditty to sing when driving was "Jumped in bed covered up her head.....doot, do, do." Harold had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh. He also liked to tease. He always said, "If I don't tease you, I don't like you." He was often found teasing or kidding around with someone. Even when he would get upset, the worst you would hear him say was "cheese and crackers or horse feathers." He was known to tell his children, "It's better to tell the truth than to tell a lie, because punishment will double for the lie." Known for his generous, kind, giving, and creative nature with his time, himself and his possessions, Harold was often sought out by others for help building or fixing something. He was known for his love and kindness to animals, always seen they were fed and cared for. Harold was often followed by numerous cats who just showed up somehow knowing he would feed them. He was always prompt and on time for everything, he was even known to set his alarm on his watch at church to remind the pastor of the time. His motto was, "Treat others as you want them to treat you." Harold enjoyed talking to others and never met a stranger. Politeness was common for Harold, responding "yes ma'am", even when responding to his wife. His favorite past time and hobbies included woodworking, reading, crocheting, jigsaw puzzles, gardening, eating and outdoor activities. After he retired he started growing earthworms so his grandkids could go fishing with him. Harold was best known for his woodcrafts such as rolling pins, cowboy clocks, toys, & picture frames. He enjoyed refurbishing furniture, but stayed so busy with the crafts he didn't get to do it much. He enjoyed spending time in his woodshop or tending his grapes & fruit trees. During the past few years, he made gingerbread houses which he gave away to anyone who requested one. Harold loved lemon meringue pie, ice cream and watermelon. He had a great love of music which started at an early age singing with his siblings on Sunday afternoons and holidays. He enjoyed singing Stamps Baxter quartet songs and was often requested to sing Bass for many Church events. He encouraged music in the home with all his kids learning to play instruments or singing in quartets with him. Harold always had a song in his heart which he shared with others. Education was very important to him and he told his children he wanted them all to get a good education so they didn't have to work as hard as he did all his life. He got to see all 4 of his children graduate H.S. at Felt High School and go on to get further education. He was also fortunate to see all 4 grandson's attend college as well. Harold was preceded in death by his parents George W. Smith and Anne Smith, 2 brothers; WIllington and MacNeil Smith, 3 sisters; Patti McDaniel, Glenna Arnett and Edith Edmonson

SURVIVORS:

He is survived by his wife of 63 yrs; Wanda Marie (Earle) Smith of Hugoton, Kansas.

4 CHILDREN: Janice Smith of Hugoton, KS, Ron Smith of Goodwell, OK, Bernard Smith and his wife Sue of Hugoton, KS and Cheryl Kottke of Lawton, OK.

4 GRANDSONS: Samuel Smith of Goodwell, OK, Anthony Smith and his wife Jen of Liberal, KS, Matthew Kottke of Lawton, Ok and Benjamin Smith of Goodwell, OK.

1 GREAT-GRANDSON: Jude Smith of Liberal, KS.