JEFFERSON — Thomas Edward Smith, age 81, died at his home in the arms of his loving wife, Hannelore on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013.
The son of William and Dora (Askue) Smith, he was born on Dec. 24, 1931, in Lenox Township and was a lifelong area resident.
As a teenager, Tom worked at the Jefferson Mill and the Farm Bureau. After graduation from high school, Tom worked for Nelson Machine before being drafted in 1952. During the Korean War, he was stationed in Berlin, Germany and worked as a Signal Corpsman attached to Military Intelligence. He returned to the United States and was in the active reserves for twelve years and was a faithful mail carrier for the United States Post Office in Jefferson for thirty-three years. Tom loved his job and the people on his route, he always had time to stop and listen to the day’s news.
While in Germany, Tom met the love of his life, Hannelore Tiburtius while at her job, as an entertainment educational clerk while she was in college. Theirs was truly a Cinderella story. Tom and Hanne were married on May 22, 1954 and had recently celebrated fifty-eight years of love and laughter.
Tom was active in many organizations; he was a sixty-six year member of the Grange, serving as State Deputy for twenty-three years. His Grange memberships included; Jefferson Grange #1113 and the Ashtabula Grange, Ashtabula County Grange, and the Ohio State Grange, where he served as State Deputy. He was also a member of the National Grange where he was a 7th degree member, and held many offices in Pomona Grange. He was an active member of Ashtabula VFW Post #943 for many years.
Tom and Hannelore loved doing things together and traveling to Europe to visit family; it was a very special time for them. Tom also enjoyed playing cards with friends, jigsaw puzzles, woodworking, going to square dances and gardening with Hannelore. One of his significant legacies he left for his family was that he was a hard worker who provided for his family. He was so proud that he built his home for his family.
Tom wanted his family to know how much he loved them and how proud he was of them and all that they have accomplished.
Tom is survived by his wife, Hannelore; children, Shirley (Mark) Pudder of Jefferson and Stanley Smith of Lenox; grandchildren, Ryan Winters, Jeremy Lesko, Jesse Pudder and Rusty Pudder; great-granddaughter, Mackenzie Herrick; and many loving nieces and nephews; and great-nieces and great-nephews.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, Harold, Ithiel, William, James and Harry Smith; sisters, Mary White, Dora Smith and Alice Chapman; and his parents.
Funeral Services will be held 12 Noon, Saturday, Jan. 12th, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 89 E. Satin St., Jefferson, with the Rev. Fred Grimm, pastor and friend, officiating. Burial will be in Oakdale Cemetery, Jefferson. Full Military Honors to be provided by Geneva VFW Post #6846, Geneva, Ohio.
Calling Hours will be observed from 10 a.m. until time of Service, Saturday, at the Church. Grange Memorial Services will be held at 11:45 a.m.
If desired, contributions in Tom’s name may be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 89 E. Satin St., Jefferson, Ohio 44047; Hospice of the Western Reserve, 1166 Lake Ave., Ashtabula, Ohio 44004; or to the Jefferson Grange, Jefferson, Ohio 44047. ZABACK-WILLIAMS-DUCRO FUNERAL HOME, 500 W. Prospect Road, Ashtabula, is in charge of arrangements.
Obituary at www.ducro.com and starbeacon.com.
