ELISE SMITH - Betty Elise McLendon Smith, age 84, died August 23, 2009 at Windsor Place in Columbus. Funeral services will be Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at 11:00 AM at Gunter & Peel Chapel with Chaplain Dean Brooks offciating and Chaplain Rick Montoya assisting. The interment will immediately follow at Memorial Gardens of Columbus. The visitation will be Tuesday, August 25, 2009 from 5:00-7:00 PM at Gunter & Peel Funeral Home. Mrs. Smith was born November 13, 1924 in Leaf, MS to the late Richard and Inez Breeland McLendon. She attended school in both Green and Perry counties and was valedictorian of Beaumont High School class of 1941. Elise married Robert Smith on February 15, 1948 and shortly after their wedding she joined her husband in Japan and traveled the world as an Air Force spouse. She lived in Spain, Scotland, and many places in the United States before returning home to Columbus in 1968 where she was a member of the Columbus Air Force Base Protestant Women of the Chapel. Elise retired from civil service at Columbus AFB in 1990. Survivors include her husband of 61 years, Robert N. Smith of Columbus, sons, Robert "Allan" Smith of Springfield, VA and David "Kenny" Smith (Jeanne) of Boerne, TX, brother, Gerald McLendon, grandchildren, Jenny Peshoff (Jeff) of Leesburg, VA, Elizabeth "Ashley" Smith of Burke, VA and Sarah Smith of Springfield, VA, and great grandchildren, Madison and Scarlet Peshoff. Pallbearers will be Bill Cagle, Bill Maddox, Greg Havens, Dave Garrison, John Robinson, Elbert Bowser, Brian Owens, and Robert Young. Honorary pallbearers will be Mike Mitchell, Harry Hatcher, and Edna Young. Memorials may be made to The Palmer Home for Children P.O. Box 746 Columbus, MS 39703 or St. Jude's Childrens Hospital 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105.
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