John D. Smith

John D. Smith, 90, of Meadville, passed to eternity Sunday, May 20, 2012 at the Meadville Medical Center, Transitional Care Unit after a two week illness.

He was born March 4, 1922 in Linesville, the son of Rev. John Burns and Julia Augusta Owen Smith. He was a 1940 graduate of Meadville High School, never having missed a day of school. He entered the Army Air Corps in 1942 and served as a message decoder in the Philippine Front of World War II. He married his lifelong love Doris Irene Romasser on May 24, 1943.

After the war he graduated from Allegheny College in 1949 with a degree in Economics.  He made a value decision to raise his young family near family in Meadville rather than take one of the many lucrative opportunities offered to him in the cities and abroad. He was hired on at Gelvin, Jackson & Starr, Inc. and eventually became president of the firm.  He was very involved in the Meadville community serving on the Board of Incorporators of the Meadville Medical Center,  volunteering his "talents" for many years in the Charity Follies, as President of the Allegheny College Alumni Association, member and Past President of Meadville Kiwanis Club, member of Meadville Roundtable, past board member of the Meadville Public Library, member of the Army of the Cussewago, member and Past Master of Masonic Lodge 408, member of Crawford County Shrine Club and Zem Zem Shrine Temple, Erie, member of the Elks Lodge #219, Past President of the Meadville Country Club, VFW Post #2006, American Legion Post #111 and the First Presbyterian Church.  He was also a member of the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity.  In 1984 he received the Blue Citation from Allegheny College in recognition and appreciation of outstanding service to the College.  John was a student of the Civil War and held a significant war library which he donated to the Crawford County Historical Society.  He retired in 1987 and spent many years enjoying travel abroad, playing golf and enjoying his many friends and relatives.

He was preceded in death by his wife Doris, his parents, a brother, Howard B. Smith, four sisters, Pauline Smith, Bernice (Bea) Higgins Old, Dorothy Lee and Gaynelle Rickerson, two brothers-in-law, James A. Lee and Lorian Rickerson and two nephews, James A. Lee Jr and John F. Higgins.

He is survived by his children Peter O. Smith and his wife Deborah Allen-Smith of Blooming Valley; a daughter, Carole Andreas of Meadville; his companion Gerri Heibel of Meadville; five grandchildren, Bess C. (Andreas) Weidner and her husband Jamey of Cambridge Springs, Elise Andreas and partner Joe Casper of Meadville, John Andreas of Meadville, Alene D. Smith of Meadville and Zebdiah J. Smith of Meadville; and his two adored great-grandchildren, Alexa Jade Casper and Weston Joshua Lee Weidner.

He was greatly appreciated, enjoyed and will be greatly missed.

Calling hours will be Wednesday from 1-2 p.m. at the Robert W. Waid Funeral Home, Inc., 581 Chestnut Street, Meadville.  The memorial service will follow at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Dr. Timothy Solomon, Pastor of Emmanuel United Church of Christ, officiating.

Interment with military honors provided by VFW Post #2006 will be in Greendale Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Crawford County Historical Society, 411 Chestnut Street, Meadville, PA 16335 or a charity of the donor’s choice.

Memories and condolences may be shared at waidfuneralhome.net.