Leonard C. "Gus" Smith

LEONARD C. GUS SMITH, JR. Leonard C. Gus Smith, Jr., of Sebring, Florida, passed away Saturday, December 10, 2011, at his home. He was born November 15, 1922, to Leonard C. and Florine (Oliver) Smith in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and had been a resident of Sebring since 1948, coming from Gainesville, where he had lived many years. He had been on the Vestry of St. Agnes Episcopal Church in Sebring and was the owner, operator and President of The Great Fruit Co. He obtained his Masters Degree in Soil Microbiology from the University of Florida, where he was the President of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. He sat on the Board of Tropical State Bank, as well as the Board at Citrus World and the Board of Production and Credit and Land Bank in Bradenton. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, Heavy Artillery, serving in Italy, France, Germany and Africa during World War II. He is survived by his wife, Peggy Smith of Sebring; daughters, Suzi McNorton, Sebring; Tracy and Mike Fitch, Sebring; Julie Finnigan, Sebring and Valeri Bush, College Station, TX; sister, Helen Smith Graham, Gainesville, FL and grandchildren, Michael Finnigan; Somer Smith; L.C. Smith, IV; Ryan Fitch; Branden Fitch; Blake Fitch and Shannon Revell. He was preceded in death by his son, Lenny Smith; first wife, Beverly Jones Smith and brother, George Smith. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, December 14, 2011, at 1:00 p.m. at Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home in Sebring, with Mike Fitch and Jim Fitch officiating. The family will receive friends the hour preceding the service, beginning at 12:00 Noon. Interment at Lakeview Memorial Gardens, Avon Park, will be immediately following the services. There will be a reception at The Country Club of Sebring following the Graveside Service. Memorial donations may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice, 1110 Hammock Rd., Sebring, FL 33870. Arrangements have been entrusted to: Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home Sebring, Florida 33870 863-385-0125 www.stephensonnelsonfh.com