Harold Wilbur "Harry" Smith

Harry Wilbur Smith, a longtime resident of Sioux City, passed away on Friday, December 12, 2014 at the Missouri Veteran's Home in Cameron, Missouri. Graveside Services will be at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, December 18th at Memorial Park Cemetery in Sioux City. Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel has assisted the family with arrangements. Harry was born in Sioux City on February 25, 1925 to Arthur Smith and Helen Richey. During his time in Sioux City, Harry worked for over 30 years in the meat packing industry as a butcher for Armor, Swift, and the Iowa Beef Packers. He was also well known as one of Sioux City's finest musicians. In 1964, Harry was featured on the cover, and in, "The Sioux Cityan", Sioux City's official greeter and entertainment guide, as one of the feature attractions for visitors to Sioux City. As a musician, Harry was a recurrent performer at the Penthouse Lounge, the Cocktail Lounge at the Sheraton Warrior Inn, and at South Sioux City's famous Flamingo Night Club. He was also a frequent guest performer on several Sioux City talk and variety shows. During WWII, Harry served his country from 1943 until 1946 in the US Coast Guard as a crew member on the U.S.S. Joyce, a destroyer escort (escorting supply ships transporting troops and cargo across the Atlantic). Harry married Etta Elease Littlejohn of Gaffney, South Carolina on September 25, 1944. This marriage lasted 43 years until Etta's death in 1986. From their union was born six children, three boys and three girls. In addition to his wife, Harry was preceded in death by one son, Harold, and his only sibling, Martin "Be Bee" Smith. Harry is survived by five children, Helen Wheeler of Trimble, MO, Beverly Howell of Pittsburgh, PA, Pamela Carter of Sioux Falls, SD, Martin Smith of Los Angeles, CA, and Jerry Smith of Sioux City, IA; ten grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.