Mr. Leslie E. Smith, 93, of Colusa, Illinois passed away at 3:55 PM Sunday, October 23, 2011 at the LaHarpe-Davier Health Care Center.

He was born on December 26, 1917 in Ferris, Illinois, the son of Glenn and Belle Smelser Smith. On October 5, 1940 he married Frances Bailey in Keokuk, Iowa. She preceded him in death on November 23, 2004.

Mr. Smith was a 1935 graduate of the Elvaston, Illinois High School. He was a World War II Veteran, having served in the US Navy from 1943 - 1945. He worked at the locker plant in Colusa for a number of years and in 1958 he became the Post Master at the Colusa Post Office, a position he held until retiring in 1989. Earlier in life he had served as a Boy Scout leader and was a school bus driver for the Colusa School. He served on the Board of Directors of the McDonough Telephone Coop, was a member of the Dallas City American Legion and the Colusa United Methodist Church.

He is survived by 2 daughters, Sandy (Vern) Hurlburt of Ferris, Illinois and Sharon (Wayne) Gerhardt of rural Niota, Illinois, 9 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, 2 sons, Jackie, in infancy, and Thomas, his daughter-in-law, Brenda Smith and 1 brother, Lyle Smith.

Services will be held at 11:00 AM Wednesday, October 26, 2011 at the Colusa United Methodist Church with Pastor David Poland officiating. Burial with Military Rites will be in the Harris Cemetery near Dallas City. Friends may call after 4:00 PM Tuesday at Banks & Beals Funeral Home in Dallas City where the family will meet with friends from 6:00 until 8:00 PM Tuesday. A memorial fund has been established for the Colusa United Methodist Church or the LaHarpe-Davier Health Care Center.