76, of Henderson, Ill. died at 7:52 PM Saturday, August 17, 2013 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center, Peoria, Ill.
He was born on December 14, 1936 in Galesburg to Charles A. and Hazel M. Allen Smith. He married Irene Mason in Galesburg.
He is survived by a daughter, Elaina (and Oscar) Green and a grandson, Justin Watson. Also surviving is Fred’s fiancée, Karen Emond of Monmouth, Ill.
He worked at the former Admiral/Maytag Manufacturing for 30 years, retiring in 1985. He served in the US Army. He was a 1955 graduate of Galesburg High School. He was given the rare honorary title of an official Kentucky Colonel.
He raised pigeons for 70 years. He was admitted into the hall of fame by the American Pigeon Club. He was a member of the American Helmet Association. He wrote a monthly article called Helmet Happenings for the American Pigeon Journal for years, and also was the author of the Helmet Handbook.
He started his own hobby for the love of flowers, and created Small Town American Gardens. He had over 700 daylilies he created himself named after small towns in the Midwest.
Funeral services will be 10:00 AM Friday, August 23, 2013 at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Galesburg Chapel with Rev. James Ecklund officiating. Burial will be in the Henderson Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Thursday, August 22, 2013 at the Chapel. Memorials may be made to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation. Online condolences may be left at www.h-p-w.com.