Jerome “Jerry” Martin Smith
Jerome “Jerry” Martin Smith, 80, of Lower Salem, OH, passed away on January 2, 2017, at Arbors of Marietta. Jerry was born on January 17, 1936, in Watertown, OH, son of the late Lura Martin Smith and Lucian Bennett Smith of Lower Salem.
After graduating as President of his senior class from Salem Liberty High School in 1953, he attended Marietta College 1953-1955. He worked for Beech-Nut Foods. He proudly served his country during the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962 as a United States Marine Corps serviceman. He was of the 199 Rifle Company of Parkersburg, WV. His training was at Parris Island.
Throughout his life, Jerry was an artist–painting both primitive and realistic western art. He painted murals and pictures for many. He loved country music; George Jones, Connie Smith and Loretta Lynn. Jerry proudly worked with his wife, Connie Smith, in her music endeavors and as a metallographer at Interlake Iron.
Jerry is survived by his son Darren Justin Smith of Oslo, Norway and his sister Jacquelen Smith of Lower Salem; 3 grandchildren are Norweigan residents, Reuben Martin Smith, Kaia Smith and Marina Smith, a step-daughter, Carole Pontious Hughey of Lowell, OH. His parents and his wife, Clarius Pontious Smith preceded him in death.
Special thank to Hospice and Arbors at Marietta for their excellent care of Jerome.
Funeral will be held Friday (Jan. 6) at 10:30am at McClure-Schafer-Lankford Funeral Home with Pastor Lou Verdi officiating. Burial will follow in Salem Township Cemetery with full military rites. Friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday from 2-4 & 6-8. Messages of sympathy may be sent at www.Lankfordfh.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Humane Society of the Ohio Valley or Hospice of Marietta.