John R. Smith, 102

July 20, 2025

John R. Smith, 102-year-old WWII Army Air Force veteran, passed away at St. Anne’s Retirement Community, Columbia, PA, on Sunday, July 20, 2025. He shared 45 years of marriage with his wife Elizabeth T. (Hildebrand) Smith before her death in 1992.

Born in Lancaster, John was the son of the late John and Gertrude E. (Barry) Smith.

A US Army Air Force Corporal, John served with the 870th Chemical Company AO 20th Air Force, stationed on Saipan after the successful US Operation Forager to capture the Mariana Islands form the Japanese during the South Pacific Campaign.

Using the skills he learned during the war, John was the lead mixer in the chemical weigh room in the manufacturing department of Warner-Lambert for 21 years, retiring in 1985.

Before moving to St. Anne’s, he was a parishioner of St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church in Lancaster and a member of the Walter S. Ebersole American Legion Post # 185 in Mount Joy.

John’s family includes his and Elizabeth’s three sons, Michael E. Smith, husband of Kathleen of Ephrata, PA, Barry L. Smith, husband of Won Kim of Yarley, PA, and John R. Smith, Jr. of Portland, OR; three grandchildren, Deborah Maxwell, Daniel Smith, and Barbara Hensley; and seven great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents and wife, John was preceded in death by his brother Joseph B. Smith and sister Margaret E. Anderson.

A viewing will take place from 10 to 11 am, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 am, with The Rev. Matthew C. Morelli as Celebrant, on Friday, July 25, 2025, at St. Anne’s Retirement Community Chapel, 3925 Columbia Avenue, Columbia, PA 17512. Final Commendation and Farewell will take place in St. Joseph New Catholic Cemetery, Lancaster, PA.