Obituary of Donald J. Smith,Sr.

Donald J. Smith, Sr, age 82 of Ransomville, NY, went home to be with the Lord while surrounded by his family on Sunday, December 26, 2021. Born in Niagara Falls on February 3, 1939, the son of the late George W. Smith and the late Helen Smith-Witmer. Donald was raised in Niagara Falls and Youngstown, NY where he graduated from Lewiston-Porter. He married the love of his life, JoAnn V. (nee) Kneeppel on February 18, 1961 and was a lifelong resident of Ransomville. He retired from the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Plant in Niagara Falls after 30 years as a Supervisor. Prior to that he worked at Club Lakewood and Reid's Grocery Store in Youngstown where he became a butcher and later on helped his brother-in-law at Kneeppel Salvage Yard. He worked hard to raise his family and to help others in many ways. He enjoyed family vacations to the Adirondacks, Catskills and camping for 20 Kingdom Bound Festivals at Darien Lake, and had been attending RiverLife Chapel in Youngstown since 2014. He enjoyed cooking and was very good at it as all of us know, he just loved being with his entire family and was affectionately known by many as "Dad" and "Papa". He touched many lives with his caring and compassionate spirit and his faith in God. He will be truly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. His favorite Bible Passage was Psalm 91. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Joann V. Smith, their children; Yvonne L. (George) Maracle, Donald J. (Patti-Jo) Smith, Jr. and Dennis D. (Nora) Smith; his grandchildren; Kaila Smith, Dylan (Amanda) Smith, Hailey (Anthony) Marino, Heather (Nana) Obeng-Boampadu; his great grandchildren; Carmen, Vanessah, Lilly, Michael, Giovanni, Oliver and Beverly; his siblings; David and Albert Smith, Jerry (Karen) Witmer and Jim (Sue) Witmer all of Youngstown also many, many Nieces, Nephews and Cousins. Donald is predeceased by siblings; April, William, Robert and George Smith, Dorothy Hooper, Evelyn Johnston, Helen (Rusty) Beckett and Linda Carnahan, sisters-in-law Judie and Sharon Smith as well as several nieces and nephews. Donations may be made in Donald's name to the Tuscarora Mission, 1964 Mt. Hope Rd. Lewiston, NY 14092 Visitation will be held at the Tuscarora Mission 5035 Walmore Rd. Sanborn, NY on Saturday, January 8, 2022, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 pm Rev Donald Robinson officiating. Arrangements have been entrusted to HARDISON FUNERAL HOME, 3648 Ransomville Rd. Ransomville, NY. Please visit www.hardisonfuneralhomes.com for online condolences.