AKRON - Orville J. "Jr" Smith, 79, of 9215 E. Division Road, Akron, died at 11:37 p.m. July 27, 2009, in his residence, following a brief illness.
He was born Oct. 1, 1929, in Winamac, to Orville M. and Mary Frances Nierzurcki Smith. On Jan. 12, 1957, in Winamac, he married Rosanna McLean.
He moved to the Akron community from Winamac 47 years ago and was a lifetime farmer. He was a 1948 Star City High School graduate and excelled as a basketball player. He served was a U.S. Army veteran, serving in the Korean War. He was a former Cub Scout leader in Akron. He loved to coon hunt and fish, and was a fan of the Colts and IU. He loved to play cards at the Den, Akron; feeding his birds; and sitting on the front porch visiting with his family.
Surviving are four children: Johne J. (and spouse Linda) Smith, Wendy (and spouse Steve) O'Dell and Paul Martin Smith, all of Rochester, and Wesley Smith, Akron; six grandchildren: Johne J. Smith, Lafayette; Brooke R. and Alyson Smith, both of Warsaw; Samantha Smith, Peru; Jason (and spouse Andrea) Smith, Wabash; and Stephanie Moore, Indianapolis; two great-grandchildren, Colton and Emerson Avery Smith, both of Wabash; two sisters, Berniece Trapp, Winamac, and Doris Moore, Fond duLac, Wis.; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a sister. Leona Rausch, Winamac.
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Earl-Love Funeral Home, 811 E. Rochester St., Akron, with the Revs. Phil Pratt and Walter Kronberg officiating.
Calling is from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
