The Rev. Dr. Howard Albert Smith, 86, of 1403 Avalon Court, Winona Lake, died peacefully at 6:53 p.m. Nov. 15, 2011, in his residence.
He was born Oct. 16, 1925, in Ontario, Canada, to Leonard Roy and Mildred Scott Smith. On Sept. 3, 1949, he married Muriel Covert, who survives.
At the age of 17, he joined the Canadian Navy and served in the North Atlantic during World War II. Upon his return, he attended a church event and met Muriel, a young nurse. He walked her home and their walk together lasted 62 years.
He and Muriel moved to the United States in 1960 and became citizens of their adopted country in the bicentennial year 1976.
He came to know God through Muriel and studied to become a Presbyterian minister. He pursued his further education, eventually earning doctorates in philosophy from Northwestern University and in ministry from McCormick Theological Seminary, along with an additional master’s degree in marriage and family counseling from Saint Francis College. He was also an educator and was a professor of philosophy at Thornton (Ill.) Community College.
He was a member of Rotary International and served as chaplain from 1980-90. He was the 1962 North Central Lions Club man of the year in Harvey, Ill. He was pastor of Federated Church of Harvey, one of only successfully desegregated churches in South Chicago during the turbulent 1960s.
He moved to Warsaw in 1977 where he served as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church from 1977-90, and it was under his leadership that the Fellowship and Education wing was built.
He founded Combined Community Services of Kosciusko County in 1984. He served as the first chairman. On June 29, 2011, he participated in the ground-breaking ceremony for the new center being built to expand and continue his vision of a centralized location to provide comfort hope and resource for those in need.
After retiring, he worked as an interim preacher, founded a church in the retirement community in Harlingen, Texas, where he and Muriel spent their winters, traveled to see family and continued to spread the good news of Jesus Christ.
He will be greatly missed by his beloved wife, Muriel Covert Smith; and his children: Heather Smith Lemon, Vail, Colo.; Ian Howard (and spouse Titi) Smith, Aptos, Calif.; Murray James (and spouse Karen) Smith, Houston, Texas; Janet Smith (and spouse Ron) Intini, Zebulon, N.C.; Brian Allan (and spouse Catherine) OliverSmith, Durham, N.C.; and grandchildren: Jamie Lemon Musgrove, Shane, JD and Shannon Lemon and Kelly Lemon (and spouse Augustin) Vizcaino, Savannah and Luke; Katie, Rachel and Ethan; Alexis Intini (and spouse Danny) Hess and Danny, Elita and Jacob; Tyler (and spouse Emily) Smith, Kylie Smith and Bella, Gigi and Maisy OliverSmith.
A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Warsaw Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Warsaw, officiated by Pastor Erik Ohman.
Calling is from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw. ***** Memorials may be made to Warsaw Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 210 S. High St., Warsaw, IN 46580; or Combined Community Services, 110 E. Prairie St., Warsaw, IN 46580.
