Peter H. Smith, 86, of Warren, PA, passed away at Kinzua Healthcare on Friday afternoon, January 12 at 3:12 as the school dismissal bell rang one last time. He was born on March 3, 1937, in Meadville, PA, and grew up in Saegertown, PA. He was the son of the late Kenneth A. and Frances Pickens Smith.
Pete was a 1955 graduate of Saegertown High School. He then attended Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, where he attained a Bachelor of Science degree in 1959 and a Master of Education in 1965. He would go on to work, until his retirement, for the Warren County School District as a classroom science teacher at Beaty Junior High School from 1959-1993.
Beyond his role as an educator, Pete was a proud member of the Warren community. He was a congregant of Grace United Methodist Church, where he served on various committees. He was a Warren Borough Council member from 1974-1985 and worked on the Home Rule Transition Committee and the Borough Police Pension Fund. Pete served on the board of directors at WACOPSE Federal Credit Union for 25 years and on the Ruth M. Smith Center board for 12 years. He officiated PIAA football for 25 years. He was a member and past president of the Kiwanis Club of Warren. He served also on the Rebuild Together Board, Youth Volunteer Corp / Advisory Committee, Warren County Education Association, and PA Association of School Retirees.
Pete spent several summers painting houses in the Warren area with fellow teachers and his sons. He was a co-owner of Allegheny Outfitters with Don Scott, with whom he owned and managed several apartment buildings in Warren. An early venture of theirs was selling California Golden Christmas trees one year. It was a partnership of nearly 50 years.
His decades of community involvement were driven by an interest in people—those whom he served and served with, who unforgettably impressed themselves upon him. Pete remembered everyone and loved most to reminisce about the characters he encountered in life. Between friends, students, colleagues, and acquaintances, they each had a story, an anecdote recounted often in the company of family—a lesson told, a moment relived, a heartfelt laugh shared.
Pete will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend to many. He is survived by his wife, Margery Rader Smith, whom he married on August 12, 1961; children Kenneth (Amy) Smith of Mercer, PA, Kyle (Paula) Smith of Pittsburgh, PA, Kurt (Marisa) Smith of Warren, PA, and Karen (Alec) Conarro of Warren, PA; his eleven wonderful grandchildren Morgan, Korey, Alyssa, Elin, Justin, Wyatt, Simon, Katie, Grant, Seth, and Gareth. He is further survived by his two sisters, Kay Fugagli of Jamestown, NY, and Judith Melville of Auburn, AL.
In addition to his parents, Pete was preceded in death by his sister Patricia Jensen, brother Robert Smith, and brother Thomas Smith.
A special thank you to the Kinzua Healthcare staff and Hospice for their loving care and support to Pete and his family over the past year.
Friends will be received on Friday, January 19, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. at the Donald E. Lewis Funeral Home, Inc., 304 East St. Warren. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 20, 11:30 am. at the Grace United Methodist Church with pastor William Beatty officiating. A luncheon will follow in the Fellowship Hall. Burial will be in the Oakland Cemetery
. E-mail condolences may be sent by visiting www.lewisfuneralhomeinc.com. Memorial contributions may be made to:
Grace United Methodist Church’s Hopes Fund, 501 Pennsylvania Ave. E., Warren, PA. 16365,
Hospice of Warren County, 1 Main Ave., Warren, PA 16365,
Ruth M. Smith Center, 407 S. Main St., Sheffield, PA 16347,