George W. Smith, 86, a longtime resident of Fredonia, died Friday, May 7, 2010, at Fredonia Regional Hospital. He was born Jan. 9, 1924 in Locust Grove, and raised near Claremore, Okla., the son of William A. and Dora M. Morehead Smith. George served in the United States Army from February 1943 to December 1945, earning the rank of corporal. For more than 55 years, he owned and operated George’s Barber Shop and the Modern Beauty Shop in Fredonia.

On August 4, 1946, in Chetopa, he married Bessie Alice Carter. She survives, of the home.

George was a member of the First Christian Church.

Survivors also include: A son, Ron Smith, Fredonia; a daughter, Kathleen Austin, Carthage, Mo.; a brother, Edwin Smith, Chetopa; seven grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; seven great-grandchildren and eight stepgreat-grandchildren.

Funeral will be 10:30 a.m. today, May 11, at the First Christian Church in Fredonia. Burial will be in the Fredonia City Cemetery. A memorial has been established in George’s name with the First Christian Church and may be sent to Timmons Funeral Home, P.O. Box 168, Fredonia, KS, 66736.