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Rev. Laurence 'Larry' Smith

Rev. Laurence "Larry" Smith, 89, a resident of Heritage Pointe, Warren, IN, died Friday, July 24, 2009, at Heritage Pointe.

Rev. Smith served with the United States Army Infantry in North Africa, Italy and the European Theater during World War II. He worked in the printing and linotype business and owned a farm before entering the Methodist ministry. He graduated from Manchester College in 1953 and earned his Master of Divinity from Garrett Theological Seminary at Northwestern University in 1957.

During his 39-year ministry, Rev. Smith served the Burket Methodist Church, Etna-Troy Methodist Church, Morris Chapel Methodist Church in Marion, Trinity Park Methodist Church in Greenfield, First Methodist Church in Winamac, Grace United Methodist Church in Rochester and Trinity United Methodist Church in Huntington. He retired from Trinity in 1986 and worked as a Realtor in Fort Wayne for 10 years, retiring again in 1996. He moved to Heritage Pointe in 2001.

He was born March 26, 1920, in Beechler City, IL, to James Irvin and Flora Mae Bates Smith. He married Imogene Shepard Smith on Sept. 29, 1945. His wife survives.

Additional survivors include a son, Laurence L. (Susan G.) Smith, of Elkhart; a daughter, B.J. Smith, of Fort Wayne; two grandchildren, Lauren S. Hodges, of Granger, and Jonathan L. (Kate) Smith, of Indianapolis; and three great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life service will be held Wednesday, July 29, 2009, at 10:30 a.m. at Glancy-H. Brown and Son Funeral Home, 203 N. Matilda St., Warren. A graveside service will be held the same day at 2 p.m. at Highland Park Cemetery, Fort Wayne.

Preferred memorials are gifts to the donor's local ministry.