Town of Frankfort - Edwin Lewis Smith of Welshbush Road passed away at home on 24 February 2017, 20 days after reaching the age of 90; a much longed for milestone. Mr. Smith was born at home on February 4, 1927 in Cassville, the youngest son of Harry and Ida Beltz Smith. A family story relating to his arrival was a favorite of his; according to older siblings, Edwin’s father fought his way through a “Raging Blizzard” to bring the doctor. When he later remarked to his wife, “That’s some headwind out there”, she misunderstood and thought he was suggesting a name for the newly arrived baby so he was named Edwin. Mr. Smith attended Allen District, a one-room school in Clayville, and Sauquoit Valley High School. He wed Cora Folts of Frankfort on April 23, 1949. He left his life on the family farm on Babcock Hill to start a long career as a welder with a position at Utica Structural Steel. For many years, he worked for GE, starting at the Kent Street facility, working at Broad Street and finally ending at the French Road plant working on the Sidewinder missile program. After leaving GE, he resumed his career as a welder at Mid-State Steel where he designed and constructed the Mason’s symbol that is currently standing on the grounds of the Masonic Home. He was later employed at International Heater (Friedrich Inc.) where he held a supervisory position until his retirement in 1989. After retiring, he once again returned to welding at Lockerbie’s in Chadwicks. He spent several years as a school bus driver for Ryder Student Transportation Services in the Frankfort-Schuyler school district; he liked to dress smartly for the students usually wearing one of his signature hats. Not one to ever stay idle, Edwin was continually remodeling his home, adding rooms and porches. He built a playhouse for each of his granddaughters; hauling one of them to Alpine, NY much to the amazement of those passing by. When he ran out of projects in the house, he remodeled every building on the property with a gingerbread theme adding a church and one-room schoolhouse. Each December his property was turned into an enchanting gingerbread Christmas village much to the delight of family and friends. Edwin was very proud of his three beloved daughters and heartbroken by the death of his youngest daughter Jody Swatling of Strong, ME in 2009. Besides his wife, Cora, he is survived by his daughters Deborah Haldeman of Holland Patent and Diane Smith of Hudson, FL; his cherished grandchildren Carrie Haldeman of Floyd, Jennie Swatling of Charlotte, NC, and Steven and Shandara Swatling of Huslia, AK; three cherished great-grandchildren Jayson Dean Masters of Floyd and Dante and Lucian Swatling of Huslia, AK; one son-in-law Steven H. Swatling of Strong, ME and Diane’s companion John Dhayer of Hudson, FL. He is also survived by his sisters Vivian Hazard of Bristol, VT and Myrtle Parkinson of Burlington Flats; two sisters-in-law Floretta Smith of Cassville and Bernice Weiss of Richfield Springs as well as innumerable nieces and nephews. He leaves behind his best friend for 75 years Arnold Owens of Sauquoit as well as his loving and caring in-laws and neighbors Frank and Dawn Kealy. Edwin was predeceased by his brothers Walter, Harold, Milton, and Chester and his sisters Emma Joslin, Ida Southworth, Helen Parkinson, and Doris Bendt. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him. Calling hours will be from 11 AM – 1 PM Saturday, March 4, at the Heintz Funeral Home, 408 Herkimer Road, Utica. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a remembrance service immediately following the calling hours. Memorial contributions may be made to The Jody Smith Swatling Memorial Fund (http://jerseysurf.org/donate/the-jody-smith-swatling-memorial-fund/). “Because I could not stop for Death - He kindly stopped for me.”