Dr. Max L. Smith

January 24, 1925 - April 2, 2019

Dr. Max LeRoy Smith, age 94, of Washington, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, April 2, 2019 at the United Presbyterian Home in Washington. Celebration of life services will be held 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at the United Methodist Church with Pastor Kwang Song officiating. Calling hours will begin noon Tuesday at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Tuesday. Interment with military honors will be held at Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington. Memorials have been established for the United Methodist Church Music Fund or the United Presbyterian Home. Online condolences may be sent for Max’s family through the web at www.jonesfh.com. Max was born January 24, 1925 in Moravia, Iowa, the son of Wilfred Andrew and Olive Inez (Caylor) Smith. He grew up in Albia, Iowa where his father owned a drug store. During high school, Max participated in track, football and music. He directed the High School Prep Band, played clarinet and was active in theater and vocal music groups. He enlisted in the Air Force in April 1943, serving in North Africa, Casablanca, France and Morocco as an Upper Air Weather Observer. He later transferred into the USAF Medical Service Corp as an Optometrist serving in the active Reserves for 22 years. Max was honorably discharged as a Major. After attending the University of Oregon and Harvard University Graduate School of Engineering while in the Air Force, Max graduated from Iowa Wesleyan College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics. While attending Iowa Wesleyan College, he was united in marriage to Madora Lonsdale on June 22, 1947 in Winfield, Iowa. He then earned is Doctor of Optometry Degree from the Illinois College of Optometry and opened his practice in Washington in the fall of 1950. Max was a fifty year member of the Masonic Lodge and a member of the KAABA Shrine. He was a lifetime member of the United Methodist Church where he served as Sunday School Superintendent, teacher, trustee, chairman of the evangelism committee and was a choir member for over sixty years. Max served as chairman of the Washington County Heart Fund for two years and a chairman of the County Easter Seals for three years. He was a sixty year member and past president of the Washington Noon Kiwanis Club. Max served on the Y’s Men Board of the YMCA where he was secretary. He filled several offices and was State President of the Iowa Optometric Association in 1961. He received the “State Optometrist of the Year” award in 1974. Max established the Washington Eye Care Center and served as Secretary of the Mid America Contact Lens Society. Max loved helping and taking care of people when and wherever he could. As a member of VOSH International he and his wife, Madora, made five mission trips into Mexico to bring optometric services and glasses to the unfortunate. Max enjoyed acting and being in many plays and musicals as the Washington Community Theater. Singing with the choral society was a joy! Max loved his family dearly! He is survived by his son, Mark Richard Smith of Washington, IA; granddaughter, Bambi Darlene Goodwin of Batavia, Iowa; great-grandchildren: Malachi, Max and Lilly Goodwin of Washington, IA; sister, Mary Olive McInnes and husband Charles of Brainerd, MN; brother-in-law, Richard “J.D” Lonsdale and wife Penny of Midway, GA; and sister-in-law, Neva Gladys Burba of Largo, FL. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Madora; and daughter, Mary Annette Sistern.