Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Smith, Geer H. (Atty. August 9, 1980
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Sentinel-Standard - Monday, Aug. 11, 1980

                              Former Judge, attorney dies
Ionia- Geer H. Smith, Ionia County probate court judge for 29 years, died Saturday 
night.

Mr. Smith, who also served as Ionia County prosecuting attorney before he became 
judge, died in Lansing Sparrow Hospital after a lingering illness. 

Born in Ionia Sept. 19, 1908, the 71 year-old Mr. Smith was the son of Kimbal R. and

Alice Geer Smithy, both Ionia pioneers. 

Mr. Smith graduated from Ionia High School in 1926 as president of his class. He 
received his AB degree from the University of Michigan in 1930, attended Harvard Law

School and graduated from the University of Detroit in 1934 with a LLB degree.

Following his college education and acceptance by the Michigan Bar Association, he 
returned to Ionia and was elected prosecuting attorney in 1936. He was re-elected 
three times - in 1938, 1940 and 1942.

Mr. Smith married Virginia Wilson of Ionia on Dec. 16, 1937. She preceded him in 
death May 25, 1979.

He was a lifelong Republican, serving as Ionia County Republican chairman and member

of the Republican State Central Committee in 1944-45 as his father, grandfather and

great-grandfather before him.

He served as assistant attorney general of Michigan in 1945.

Mr. Smith was appointed probate court judge by Gov. Harry Kelly in 1946 and was 
elected to that office in 1947, serving until 1972. During his tenure in office, he

served two terms as presiding probate judge of Michigan and as a member of the 
professional and ethics committee of the State Bar of Michigan.

"He was an efficient and dedicated public servant to the people of this county for 
many years", Douglas Welch, Ionia attorney and relative of Smith, said. "Before his

retirement, he served one of the longest terms of any probate judge in Michigan," 
Welch added. 

Mr. Smith was a member of the Ionia St. Johns Episcopal Church, serving on the 
vestry and diocesan council of the Western Dioceses of Michigan.

For many years he served on the board of trustees of the Ionia County Memorial 
Hospital and the Ionia County Mental Health Board. He was also a member of the 
Montcalm-Ionia County Bar Association, The State Bar of Michigan, the Loyal Order of

the Moose and the Ionia Lions Club. He was also a member of the Ionia Masons, the 
Scottish Rite Consistory, 32nd Degree.

In Addition, he was one of the last surviving historians of the Ionia area.

Herb Dunsmore, president of the Ionia County Historical Society, lauded Smith for 
his efforts at preserving local history.

"He had a great deal of information about the Civil War and the people from Ionia 
who participated in it. Some of them were his relatives." he said. "His family gave

three generations of civic leadership to Ionia, and was responsible for the first 
post office here."

Survivors include two sons, Kimbal R. III and Geer H. Jr., both of Lansing and three

grandchildren. 

SERVICES WILL be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Johns Episcopal Church with the

Rev. Ray Roberts officiating.

Burial will be in Highland Park Cemetery.

The family will receive friends and relatives at Myers-Roetman Funeral Home from 7 
to 9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. 

A memorial has been established for the Ionia County Memorial Hospital. 

Additional Comments:
Age: 71
Services: Wednesday, 13 August, 1980
Highland Park cemetery #7-23

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