Julia S. Smith

Julia S. Smith, 90, of Rock Island, formerly of Moline, IL, died Wednesday, May 3, 2017, at Friendship Manor, Rock Island, IL.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. with a visitation from 9 to 10 a.m. Monday, May 8, 2017, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 4107 21st Avenue, Moline, IL.  Burial will be at Moline Memorial Park.  Memorials may be made to Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Moline, Friendship Manor in Rock Island, or to a charity of your choice.  Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd., Moline, is assisting the family with arrangements.

Julia was born on May 29, 1926, near Pevely, MO, the daughter of Julius Jr. and Sophia Louise Kerckhoff Stupp.  She was baptized July 11, 1926, and was confirmed March 17, 1940, at Zion Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, Pevely, MO.  She attended a one room school for her elementary education.  She graduated from high school in Herculaneum, MO.  She worked six years for John Deere Plow Company in St. Louis where she met her husband, Kenneth B. Smith, an auditor with Deere & Company.  They were married in 1950.

In 1965, Julia and her family moved to Moline, where she was a long-time member of the YMCA and enjoyed swimming.  She was a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Moline.  Julia enjoyed being a housewife and swimming, dancing, and taking photos of family and vacations.

Julia is survived by her 3 children, Donald E. (Elaine) Smith, Chicago, IL, Paul (Holly) Smith, Seminole, FL, and Marilyn Dawkins, Granite Shoals, TX; 9 grandchildren which she was blessed with, Matthew Smith, Emily Smith Ploegman, Stephen Smith, Stacey Lee, Rebekah Veneziano, Melissa Dawkins, Katherine Smith, Jennifer Dawkins, and Rachel Smith; 9 great grandchildren; sisters, Ida Butler, Sacramento, CA, and Elaine Fleischman, Casper, WY.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Sophia nee Kerckhoff and Julius Stupp, Jr. and her husband.

Memories may be shared online by visiting esterdahl.com.