DeBurl Smith

DeBurl was born September 17th, 1922, at the Houseman Estate, Clear Lake Township, Steuben County, Indiana, to Walter M. and Ola J. (Kelso) Smith.

He attended the one-room Rathbun and Sand schools in Clear Lake Township before there was school bus transportation. DeBurl graduated with the class of 1942 from Fremont High School. His family were members of the Saints Church where his grandfather held the position as an elder.

On January 1, 1943, he was united in marriage to Dorris Sickels in Angola, Indiana, and she survives in Angola, Indiana. They began their life together on the Smith family farm in Clear Lake Township. During the years on the farm they raised prize Jersey and Charloix cattle. DeBurl was an active member of the Fremont-Clear Lake Farm Bureau and Fremont Commercial Club. He served on the board of directors of Albion Production Credit, Steuben County Soil and Water Conservation and Dana Corporation Credit Union.

For 14 years DeBurl played semi-pro basketball, the highlight of those years were games against the Harlem Globe Trotters. He also played baseball for the Town of Fremont.

DeBurl and Dorris were members of the Alpha Farmers Club, Land of Lakes Amateur Radio Club, sponsors of Steuben County Rural Youth, and members of several square dance clubs.

They were western square dancers for more than 50 years together.

DeBurl enjoyed traveling and together they visited most of Canada, Mexico and the United States.

After retiring from Dana-Weatherhead, DeBurl and Dorris were winter Texans residing in Mission and were volunteers at the McAllen Chamber of Commerce for several years. Back home in Indiana, he enjoyed the summers growing giant hibiscus. He was a gentleman and never said an unkind word.

DeBurl and Dorris have two children, Dale and (Del) Smith of Hillsdale, Mich., and Dianne and Gene Diehl of Fremont; Grandchildren: Debbie Diehl and friend Chris Roach of Angola, David and Angie Diehl of Angola, and Laura and Andy Leese of Montpelier, Ohio; great grandchildren: Chris Higbee of Daytona Beach, FL., Jennifer Higbee of Angola, Austin and Matthew Hall of Fremont, Brandon Diehl of Angola, and Elayna Hasty of Montpelier, Ohio; and nieces: Phyllis & Vernon Strang of Fremont, Janet and Leroy Seigel of Fremont, and Beverly and Bob Manley of Whitehouse, Ohio.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Virgil Smith; sisters, Audra Luttrell and Wanda Kloepfer; his parents, Walter M. and Ola J. (Kelso) Smith; and a great-grandson, Michael Diehl.

Calling will be held from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, June 11, 2013, at Beams Funeral Home, Fremont, Ind., with a graveside funeral service being held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 12, 2013, at Jamestown Cemetery, State Road 120, Fremont, Ind., with the Rev. Jon Bruney officiating.

Memorials are requested to Michael Diehl Scholarship Fund in care of the Steuben County Community Foundation.