Harold E. Smith

Harold E. Smith TOWNVILLE - Harold E. Smith, 93, of 14636 W. Freemont St., Townville, died Sunday, April 12, 2009, at Golden Living Center in Meadville, where he had been a resident for the past month He was born June 17, 1915, in Wayne Township, the second child of Stanley and Madge (McDonald) Smith. He married the former Doreen Eldred on Feb. 14, 1946. She preceded him in death Nov. 4, 1979. He then married Ruth Deane in May 1981. She preceded him in death in December 2003. He graduated from Townville High School in 1933. He served in World War II in Europe in the Invasion of France in the U.S. Army. He was self-employed as a building contractor for most of his life and also was a partner in Gillette and Smith Lumber Co. in Townville for a number of years. He loved working in his wood shop and was an avid gardener. He also loved ballroom dancing. He was a former mayor of Townville, a former PENNCREST School Board member as well as a former member of the Crawford County Vocational-Technical Board and Advisory Panel. He was a member of the Townville Bruce Judd American Legion Post 0994 and a member of the Veterans of Foreign War Post 5958 of Titusville and a member of the Order of Masonic Lodge in Titusville 0754. He was also a member of Townville United Methodist Church. He is survived by his children, Barbara K. (Kathy) Muir and her husband, Arden, of Hadley, James C. Smith and his wife, Phyllis, of Meadville, and Debra M. Gourley and her husband, Myron, of Harborcreek; a stepson, Duane Dean and his wife, Bonnie, of Titusville; 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; a sister, Mabel Conner of Newton, N.J.; several nieces and nephews; and a special friend, Lila Hollabaugh of Townville. He was preceded in death by his parents; his two wives; a son-in-law, Robert W. Bechtel; a sister, Helen Bertram; and four brothers, Forrest, Francis, Gerald and Gilbert Smith. Friends may call at Willis Arnold Funeral Home in Townville, a division of Roofner/Collins Funeral Home, Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. A Masonic service will be held prior to calling hours at 5:45 p.m. The funeral and committal service will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the funeral home.