SYRACUSE – Phillip Edward Smith, 83, Syracuse, passed away Oct. 26, 2014, in New Jersey. He was born in Warsaw. He was married to Beverly Baum. After high school, he served with the Air Force and was stationed in Okinawa, Japan. Once he returned, he attended Missouri School of Mines and received his degree in engineering. He and Beverly raised their three children, Janet, John and Gretchen, in Janesville, Wis. While in Wisconsin, he worked for Dana Corp. as a metallurgist engineer and was later transferred by Dana Corp. to Syracuse. He became the proud grandpa of six grandchildren: Gabriela, Hannah, Forrest, Jessica, Matthew and Michael. He enjoyed fishing, taking them out on Wawasee on the speedboat as well as the paddleboat. As the retirement age rolled in, he thoroughly enjoyed woodworking, volunteering at the local hospital and canning peaches. They are going to greatly miss their sweet, charismatic and loving grandpa. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Eastlund Funeral Home, Syracuse. A private burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw. Calling is from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
