Lester "Howdy" Smith's Obituary
SALESVILLE TWP.-SHALERSVILLELester L. "Howdy" Smith, 81 years of age, passed away unexpectedly Friday May 4, 2012 at Wexner Medical Center - O.S.U. in Columbus, Ohio. Born on June 12, 1930 in Freedom Township, Ohio, he was the son of the late Harold and Verda (Smith) Smith, Sr. A longtime resident of Shalersville, he moved to Salesville in 1997.Mr. Smith had been employed as a heavy equipment operator for Ohio Operating Engineer's, retiring in 1991.Presently he was a member of Senecaville United Methodist Church, and formerly was a longtime member of Portage Faith United Methodist Church in Mantua. Mr. Smith was a member and Past Master of Mantua Masonic Lodge No. 533 F.&A.M., Scottish Rite of Cambridge, Ohio, and Garrettsville Masonic Lodge, the Ohio Happy Treasure Hunters and an honorary member of the Blue Knights of Ohio. He enjoyed auctions and going to flea markets, and well be remembered as a friend to all, whose greeting of "Howdy" will not be forgotten. As part of the Dickens Victorian Village Annual Christmas Event in Cambridge, Ohio, his portrait is seen as the Politican in "A Christmas Carol" and became well known to those attending this special holiday presentation. Mr. Smith proudly served his country in the Korean Conflict in the U.S. Army, rising to the Rank of Sergeant, and was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action. He held memberships with American Legion Post No. 193 of Mantua, Ohio, lifetime member of the V.F.W., Military Order of Purple Heart Chapter No. 625.the 24th. Infantry Association, the Korean War Veterans Association and served in the National Guard following his honorable discharge. Survivors include his wife Patricia Z. (Zofffian) Smith at home, his children Gordon Smith of Ravenna, Ohio, Gera (Thomas) Kennedy of Mantua and Doreen DeAngelo of Newton Falls, Ohio, his siblings Leslie (Priscilla) Smith of Beloit, Ohio, Robin (Susan) Smith of Grand Rapids, Minnesota and Chloe Ann Sweet of Ravenna, Ohio, his grandchildren Jenny, Holly, Jeffrey and Jaime, and great-grandchildren Noah, Jordan, Brandon, Jason and Hannah. Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his first wife Evelyn "Babe" Smith in 1982, his grandson Thomas W. Kennedy, Jr., his siblings Harold Smith, Jr., Gerald Smith, Sue Fairchild and Shirley Mirande. Visitation will be Wednesday May 9, 2012 from 10:00 A.M.-12:00 Noon at the Green Family Funeral Home & Crematory Service in Mantua, where his funeral service will be held at 12:00 Noon with Pastor Tom Matus officiating. Mr. Smith will then be laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery in Shalersville with full military honors provided by U.S. Army Honor Guard Team, assisted by members of American Legion Post No. 193. Respectively acting as pallbearers will be Gordon Smith, Tom Kennedy, Jeff Kennedy, Mark Karabec, Mike Cavanagh and Patrick Cavanagh, and honorary pallbearer John Morton. His obituary and funeral service may be viewed at www.greenfamilyfuneralhome.com.
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