Arthur F. Smelser

Arthur F. Smelser, 81 of Tipton died at 11:26 a.m. Thursday, July 7, 2011 at Miller's Merry Manor in Tipton. He was born in Tipton on September 2, 1929 to Francis Smelser and Pauline (Maholm) Smelser Prifogle. On June 11, 1950 he married Ann Camren and she survives.

Art graduated Tipton High School in 1947. He was a school bus driver, worked at Voris Seed as a Salesman, was a manager for the Deere Shed, and worked at Ace Hardware for ten years before retiring in 2001. He was a member of Emanuel Lutheran Church, serving on the Board of Elders, Board of Properties, Board of Education, and a member of the church choir. He also belonged to the Lions Club, and was a member of the Tipton County Advisory Board.

Besides his wife Ann, Art is also survived by two sons, Gary and wife Cathy of Ames, Iowa, Rick and wife Karen of Elkhorn, Nebraska; five grandchildren, Matthew Smelser and wife Kristina, Andrew Smelser and wife Ashley, Rachel Wassenaar and husband Tom, Stephanie Miller and husband Tony, Ryan Smelser and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, David Smelser and a sister, Flora (Smelser) Forgey.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Monday, July 11 at the Emanuel Lutheran Church with Rev. Robb Roloff presiding. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery, Tipton. Visitation will be from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. Sunday and from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Monday, all at the church.

Memorial donations may be made to the Emanuel Lutheran Church, 1385 S. Main Street, Tipton, Indiana 46072, Heartland Hospice Memorial Fund, 333 N. Summit Street, P.O. Box 10086, Toledo, Ohio, 43699, or the Alzheimer's Association, 50 E. 91st Street Suite 100, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46240.

Young-Nichols Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.