Harold Gale Smeltzer, 85

Friday, February 10, 2012

Harold Gale Smeltzer, 85, of Rimersburg, died Friday, February 10, 2012, at VNA Hospice in Butler.
Born June 3, 1926, in Climax, he was the son of Leonard Austin and Pearl May (Callen) Smeltzer.
Mr. Smeltzer attended Himes School on Mayport Road and then Punxsutawney High School until he entered the U.S. Air Force during World War II. He proudly served his country as an airman first class in the Rhineland and Central European Theater during the war, and continued to serve as a mechanic for the U.S. Army and Air Force for 26 years through the Korean Conflict. Throughout his years of service, he was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star Medal, U.S. Army Good Conduct Medal with two knots, European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars, WWII Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal (USAF) with three knots, National Defense Medal, Occupational Medal (both in Germany and Japan), Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Korean War Service Medal and Air Force Longevity Service Award with four oak leaf clusters.
After retiring from the Air Force, Mr. Smeltzer worked as a truck driver for Claude Hilliard and Murphy Coal Company.
He was a member of the Oak Ridge Evangelical Church, American Legion Post 454 and Fraternal Order of Freelance Photographers No. 58934.
Mr. Smeltzer also held life memberships with Disabled American Veterans Chapter 16, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7132 and 78th Division Veterans Association.
He had many hobbies, including photography and working on his computer. He loved being outdoors, and he frequently went hunting, fishing and camping. History was another interest of his, and he spent time researching military history and his family's genealogy.
Family was paramount to Mr. Smeltzer and he cherished the time he spent with them. He believed that family members should take care of each other, and he lived this belief out by caring for his wife and helping anyone in his family. Those who knew him will always remember him as a true man - one who deeply loved his country and family, and who possessed a caring and nurturing spirit.
Survivors include a son, John Smeltzer and his wife, Velma, of Rimersburg; four daughters, Iva Nathalene "Sue" Tyson of Cherryville, N.C., Tina Lorenz of Cherryville, N.C., Diane Billotte and her husband, Edward, of Rimersburg, and Dorthy I. Runyan of Rimersburg and her companion, Daniel Guntrum, with whom he resided for 22 years; 16 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Doris Gayda, of Wheeling, W.Va.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife of 33 years, Margie Annie Louise (Womeldorf) Smeltzer, who passed away October 15, 1989; sons, Terry Smeltzer and Vincent Edward Smeltzer; a daughter, Carol Jean Best; brothers, Donald Smeltzer, who was killed in France during World War II, and Leonard Smeltzer; and a sister, Claire Broscius.
Relatives and friends may visit from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, February 13, and Tuesday, February 14, at the Bauer-Hillis Funeral Home and Cremation Services Inc. in Rimersburg.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, February 15, 2012, at the funeral home with the Rev. Dan George officiating.
Military honors will be presented at the cemetery by the Rimersburg American Legion Post 454 and the VFW Post 7132.
Interment will follow at Squirrel Hill Cemetery, Porter Township, Clarion County.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Smeltzer's honor to Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 1728, Butler, PA 16001.
To express online condolences to the family or view a tribute honoring Mr. Smeltzer's life, visit: www.bauerhillisfuneral.com.