John Edward Smith, 2035 Ben Franklin Highway, New Castle, passed away unexpectedly Friday (12-26-08) at 9:10 p.m. in the Jameson Memorial Hospital following a brief illness. He was 89.
He was born in New Castle, September 18, 1919, to the late Edward Joseph and Delia O'Connor Smith.
A lifelong area resident, he graduated from Union High School in 1938.
He was employed as a maintenance electrician at the former Youngstown Sheet & Tube, and he retired in 1977 at the closing of the plant.
He was a member of Mary Mother of Hope Parish.
He enjoyed a good round of golf and belonged to several leagues including West Side, and K Pulaski golf leagues. He especially enjoyed his Tuesday morning outings with his buddies.
He was instrumental in getting Little League Baseball organized in Union Township and was an umpire for the league for many years.
A decorated war veteran, he served with the United States Navy during WWII. Completing boot-camp at Newport Naval Base, Newport, R. I., he was assigned temporary additional duty (TAD) for 2-3 weeks aboard the USS Constitution 'Old Ironsides' in Boston Harbor. He was transferred for a short time to the battleship USS Texas BB-35 before being assigned to destroyer USS Lea DD-118. Subsequently he volunteered for submarine duty. After extensive training at New London, Connecticut, he was assigned to the submarine USS Barracuda SS-163. Barracuda's six war patrols in the Pacific were uneventful. He was transferred to submarine USS Toro, SS-422, which was newly-commissioned in 1944. While on war patrol in the Pacific, Toro was instrumental in rescuing several downed pilots. At war's end Toro was assigned to the Philadelphia Navy Yard for deactivation in October 1945. At that time John was mustered out of the navy with the rank of Chief Electrician's Mate (EMC). He was a lifetime me!

mber of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV).
His wife the former Bertha Dell French whom he married on October 31, 1942, at St. Mary's Church by Rev Francis McCarter, survives at the residence. They celebrated their 66th anniversary in 2008.
Also surviving are his children, Rebecca Hilton and her husband James, New Castle; John Smith and his wife Regina, Las Vegas; James D. Smith, New Castle; Jule Horney and her husband Timothy, Edinburg; and Christine DeGaton and her husband DeWayne, Bessemer; three brothers, James A. Smith, Olanthe, Kansas; Michael David Smith, Pittsburgh; Robert Francis Smith, Marion, Oh; He will be greatly missed by his grandchildren, Elaine Mains, Columbia, TN; James (Amy) Hilton, New Castle; Michael Hilton, Charleston, S. C.; Jennifer (Kirk) Lape, New Castle; Adrienne Wrona, Wampum; Michelle McKenna, Connecticut; Ernie (Denise) Dellaverson, Oklahoma; Sia Marshall, Las Vegas; Evan and Cameron DeGaton, Bessemer; 14 great-grandchildren, Dorian, Coulter, Garrett, Elizabeth, Jerrod, Riley, Quinn, Tierney, Sophia, Justin, Nadia, Natalie, Sydney, and Enzo. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his three sisters, Mary Eileen Greene, Kathleen Kelly, and Callista A. Taylor, two brothers, Joseph E. and Edward J. Smith Jr.
Calling hours will be Tuesday (12-30-08) from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 111 W. Falls Street, New Castle, PA 16101. Full military honors will be rendered by the New Castle Honor Guard in the funeral home at 7: 45 p.m. at the close of calling hours.
Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday (12-31-08) in St. Mary's Church with Rev. Victor J. Molka Jr. as celebrant.
Private burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery, New Castle.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the New Castle Public Library, 207 East North Street, New Castle, PA 16101 or to the Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301.