John's sister, Linda, asked me to post a message on this site to inform all of you of John's death. I am posting his obituary because it tells of his rich life and service to the State of West Virginia.
JOHN D. SMITH SR.
FORT ASHBY, W.Va. - John D. “J.D.” Smith Sr., 69, of Fort Ashby, died Friday, April 10, 2009, at Pleasant View Nursing Home, Mount Airy, Md.
Born April 24, 1939, in Welch, he was the son of the late John Paul and Claudia (Duggins) Smith. John was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn, on April 15, 2000.
A graduate of Welch High School class of 1957, John served in the U.S. Army for three years of which two were spent in Japan. Upon his honorable discharge, he served the state of West Virginia for 42 years. He first entered the West Virginia State Police Academy in 1962 and served at detachments in Elkins, Webster Springs, Martinsburg and Romney. In Martinsburg, he served as detachment commander, and in Romney, as district commander. He returned to Elkins and finished his 22-year state police career as a first sergeant where he was the logistics officer for Company C.
He then spent 20 years as an investigator with the West Virginia Bureau of Employment Programs where he closed more than 2,000 cases. He retired in October 2004.
John was a founding member of Camp Thunder Rock in Webster Springs. He also began a 46-year association with the Mountain State Forest Festival as a young trooper in Elkins in 1962 and served as Queen Sylvia’s official driver for more than 20 years. Following his retirement from the state police, he served as a festival assistant director, then on the board of directors, and was named director emeritus in 2008.
West Virginia University football was his passion, which began in the late 1960s when his younger brother Danny played for the Mountaineers. He attended hundreds of games around the country, including several bowl games. He was a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church, Fort Ashby, the Fort Ashby Lions Club; Robert White Lodge #67, A.F.& A.M.; 32nd Degree, Scottish Rite Bodies; and Ali Ghan Shrine.
Surviving are his son, John D. Smith Jr. and wife, Maria, of Fort Ashby; grandson, Nicholas of Fort Ashby; one sister, Linda Stacy of Charleston; and two brothers, Jerry Smith and wife, Deborah, of Ann Arbor, Mich., and Danny Smith and wife, Linda Kay, of Beckley. He also is survived by one brother-in-law, Don Evick and wife, Tony, of Lewisburg; and three sisters-in-law, Anna Ruth Collett of Elkins; Jane Bond and husband, Gary, of Seminole, Fla.; and Carolyn Stalnaker and husband, Jim, of Elkins.
Friends will be received at the Upchurch Funeral Home, Fort Ashby, on Monday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.
Services will be conducted at the Trinity United Methodist Church, Fort Ashby, on Tuesday at 1 p.m. with the Rev. Mark Hickman officiating. Interment will be in the Fort Ashby Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Camp Thunder Rock members, Bill Keaveny, Larry Johnson, Larry Clifton and Tim Bereuter, and nephews, David Stacy, Jimmy Stacy and Brad Stalnaker.
Memorial contributions in John’s memory may be sent to: Alzheimer’s Association, West Virginia Chapter, 1111 Lee Street, East, Charleston, WV 25301.
Condolences to the family may be posted after John’s obituary at www.upchurchfh.com.
I'm sure John will be remembered and missed by his many high school friends from the class of 1957. May his soul rest in peace.
