Basil Bryan Smith (1897-1965)

First Generation

1. Basil Bryan Smith was born 2 Jun 1897 in Anderson, Madison Co., IN; d. 16 Apr 1965 in Anderson, Madison Co, IN; and was buried on 18 Apr 1965 in Anderson, Madison Co., IN. SSN 313-03-0607. He married Mabel Evaline Keller on 25 Jul 1922 in Anderson, Madison Co., IN. They had 6 children, one of whom is still living. [Parents]

Children of Mabel Evaline Keller and Basil Bryan Smith:

1. child, possibly named Francis James Smith, b. 2 Sep 1923, d. abt March 1924 in Anderson, Madison Co., IN.
2. Flora Margaret Smith,  b. 14 Nov 1924 in Anderson, Madison Co., IN; d. of cancer in 24 March 1997 in Salem, Washington Co., IN. SSN 315-14-7941. She m. (1) Bob Cole. They had three children (two boys and a girl). The divorced. She m. (2) Wilson Morgan, who adopted one of Flora and Bob Cole's sons.
3. Wilford Eugene Smith, b. 2 Sep 1926 in Anderson, Madison Co., IN; d. of cancer 23 May 1995 in Sunnyvale, Santa Clara Co., CA. SSN 316-22-5408. He married <still living>. They had two sons.
4. Daughter <still living>. She m. Donald Francis Cookman, b. 4 Jun 1928 in Anderson, Madison Co., IN; d. Dec 1978 in Anderson, Madison Co., IN. SSN 304-26-9547. Don is buried in Anderson, Madison Co., IN. They had one son and one daughter.
5. Wade Keller Smith, b. 9 Aug 1929 in Anderson, Madison Co., IN; d. 27 Jun 1994 in Riverdale, Clayton Co., GA. SSN 304-26-9530. He m. <still living> and they had three children.
6. John Warren Smith, b. 19 Aug 1930 in Anderson, Madison Co., IN; d. 27 Jun 1996 in Anderson, Madison Co., IN. SSN 313-26-9218. John is bur. in East Maplewood Cem., Anderson, Madison Co., IN. He m. <still living>; they had one son and one daughter.

Left and right: Photos of young Basil Smith, dates unknown, from Mildred M. Smith collection.

Basil quit working at Nicholson File Company to join the Army. He served in Company E, 3rd Engineers, from 8 August 1916 to 10 Nov 1919. On Nov 11, 1919, he re-enlisted as a Private Specialist 4th Class in the Corazal Canal Zone. He was discharged honorably at Fort Slocus, NY, on 20 Sep 1920 as US No. __350516 Private Specialist 4 Class Casual Det 4th Rct, Co G.S.I. Regular Army. While enlisted, he served as a cook in the Canal Zone.

Basil studied to be a doctor under his Uncle Robert (Raper[?] or Spaulding). He worked for Delco-Remy for 32 years in Anderson, Indiana, retiring in 1962.

Sources of Information: U.S. Army discharge papers (in possession of Dorothy Cookman in 1978). Dorothy Cookman, oral communication with Ted Smith, 1981 and 1983; obituary (see text below).

OBITUARY

BASIL SMITH

Basil Brian Smith, 67, of 303 E. 31st St., died Friday morning at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Don (Dorothy) Cookman of Anderson.

Mr. Smith retired in 1962 from Delco-Remy after 32 years of employment there. He was a member of the USA-CIO 662. He was born in Madison Co, a son of Sylvester and Elizabeth Smith, pioneer residents of this area.

Survivors include five children, Mrs. Cookman, Mrs. Wilson (Margaret) Morgan of Pekin, Ind., John Warren Smith and Wade Smith, both of Anderson, and Wilford Smith of Sunnyvale, Calif.; three sisters, Mrs. Florence Gifford, Mrs. Maude Remley, and Mrs. Louise Barnes, all of Anderson, nine grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and other relatives.

Funeral rites will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday at the Bethel Methodist Church by the Rev. John Pattison. Burial will be in Anderson Memorial Park Cemetery.

Friends will be received at the Nuckols and Carmichael Funeral Home after 6 p.m. today.

Source: Anderson County Herald, April 17, 1965.

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