Ira “Bud” Joseph Smith 91, of Oxford passed from this life into eternal life on May 21, 2020 at Royal Oak Beaumont Hospital from cardiac complications.

Bud was born the youngest of three boys on Flag Day, June 14, 1928 at home in Detroit. He is preceded in death by: his parents Ira J. and Milda Smith; brothers Robert and Thomas Smith. He is survived by his wife Marguerite Ann Marx-Smith; their four children: Debra Smith-Siens, Kevin Smith (Lynette), Shawn Smith and Shannon Smith-Morrison (Michael); grandchildren: Thomas Siens (Jessica), Brian Smith, Kristen Bourne (Brian), Bradley Morrison (Stacy), Eric Smith, Matthew Morrison (Cassy) and Alyssa Morrison; great grandchildren: Drake, Isabella, Taylan, Emily, Luke, Megan, Marissa, Adelaide and Nora.

As a child, Bud developed a strong interest working in his grandfather’s hardware store on Greenfield in Detroit, which carried over into many facets of his life, such as building garden-arbors and repairing and rebuilding antiques. Humbled by his wisdom, one had to dig deep to hear stories of his natural athletic talent on display in areas such as swimming and track & field where he and his teammates held the high school mile relay-record for many years.

He met his true life’s treasure, soulmate, and center to his universe, Marguerite, at Thomas M. Cooley High School in Detroit in a jewelry class when she was just 14. He also delivered mail for a summer and Marguerite’s home was at the tail end of his route and she would serve him hot chocolate and they would talk and get to know one another. Their beautiful marriage at Rosedale Lutheran Church on Grand River in Detroit May 27, 1950 neared 70 years of celebration this year. Bud was the ultimate provider working at GM Photographic in Detroit and the Warren Tech Center retiring after 43 years of service.

Bud was a faithful Detroit sports fan and with his wife developed an infectious passion for the antiquing business as well as gardening, birding and genealogy. He enjoyed traveling in the US, Canada and Europe with his family and together they created many lasting memories. Bud was able to identify and define success early on in life through family importance and relationships and was so often the focal point to his messaging. He was a man that embodied so many of life’s positive ethical and moral traits such as love, commitment, humility, discipline, perseverance and frugality to name just a few. The lives he touched extend far and wide, and many people are forever grateful to have known him. 

Celebration of life to be forthcoming in the future.  

Please send any donations to Michigan Audubon 2310 Science Parkway, Suite 200, Okemos, 48864 include in the memo: In Memory of Ira J. Smith

https://www.lynchandsonsoxford.com/obituaries/obituary-listings?obId=14925645#/obituaryInfo

He will be dearly missed.

  Bud Smith, Ira Smith Jr