Obituary of Theodore "Ted" Smith

Theodore “Ted” Smith CUYAHOGA FALLS - Theodore “Ted” Smith, 95, was taken to be with his Lord, accepting Him as his personal Savior at age 9. He passed away peacefully in his home on March 27, 2015 in Cuyahoga Falls. He was born September 2, 1919 in Akron to the late Percy and Agnes (Moehr) Smith. He was a life resident of the area and attended Hower Vocational High School in Akron. Preceded in death by his parents, brother Homer, sister Charlotte Ebel and his son-in-law Maurice Butler, he is survived by Mary (Kurtz) his loving wife of 73 years; children Patricia Troxell and fiancé Lewis Hartzell, Donald (Sylvia) Smith and Joyce Butler; 7 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family members and friends. He married Mary in November 1941, then entered the U.S. Army in April 1942, serving with the 2nd Armored Division (Hell on Wheels) during World War II, arriving in North Africa on December 24, 1942 under the command of Gen. George Patton. His service took him through Algeria, French Morocco and on to Palermo, Sicily, then to England. He landed on Omaha Beach, Normandy, France in June 1944, then through France, Belgium, Holland, Rhineland, The Ardennes and Central Europe. He was at the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944 and was awarded numerous decorations, including a Good Conduct Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Citation, European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with Arrowhead and six Battle Stars, a Silver Star and Bronze Star, two Belgian Fourragères and German Occupation Medal. Being discharged from Company A 47th Armored Infantry Battalion in October 1945, he returned home. Ted retired from the Ohio Edison Co., with 36 years of service, was a 32nd Degree Mason with Stow Lodge #768 and a member of Scottish Rite Valley of Akron. He loved fishing and was an avid bowler. He had a passion to serve. A crew chief with the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief for 20 years, he helped with Hurricanes Andrew and Hugo, the Cambridge flood and many others. He worked with the Boy Scouts and loved camping. Mr. Smith was a deacon at Crestview Baptist Church in Stow. Friends are invited to Redmon Funeral Home for visitation Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 PM, where Pastors Michael Mackens and John McIntyre will conduct service Wednesday 11 AM. Burial at Crown Hill with military honors provided by the U.S. Army. Masonic service Tuesday 7:30 PM at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Crestview Baptist Church, 3943 Fishcreek Road, Stow 44224.