George F. Smith

George Frank Smith, 94, formerly of Linesville, died on Wednesday, February 10, 2016, at Rolling Fields Elder Care in Conneautville, after a brief illness.

Mr. Smith was predeceased by his wife of almost 68 years, the former Anne Kessler of Wall Township, NJ, who died on March 14, 2014, in the same facility.  He is survived by six children; Michele Weiner (Michael), Andrea Solazzo, Douglas Smith, Dennis Smith (Barbara), Timothy Smith, and Tracey Elsey (Robert); by 14 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren.

Born and raised in Chester, Pa, Mr. Smith was the son of George Faulkner Smith and Rose Eva Tarry. He attended Smedley Junior High School and Chester High School.

In December of 1941, shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Mr. Smith enlisted in the Marine Corps. He reported for duty in January of 1942, completed basic training at Parris Island, SC, then shipped out in time to participate in the amphibious landing on Guadalcanal in the British Solomon Islands, as a member of I Company, Third Battalion, First Marine Regiment, First Marine Division.  His next landing was at Cape Gloucester on New Britain, and his last was on Peleliu.

Private First Class Smith was a rifle marksman and volunteered to be a forward scout. He received a serious neck wound on Peleliu, and was transported from the battlefield to a hospital ship off the coast. Fearing a Japanese attack on the ship, he nervously waited for transfer to a land-based hospital.

Pfc. Smith recuperated on dry land in New Caledonia, and was sent back to the Russell Island combined headquarters for reassignment, where he discovered that he was only the second member of his old company to report as ready for duty.  He was sent home instead of to Okinawa and Iwo Jima with his reconstituted unit, and was assigned to Earle Naval Ammunition Depot. Mr. Smith patrolled the fences of the heavily wooded base on horseback. He met his wife, Anne, while serving in New Jersey.  She often accompanied him on his duty. They married on Nov. 18, 1945. He was formally discharged from the Marines on Jan. 6, 1946. He was awarded a Good Conduct Medal, a Presidential Unit Citation and a Purple Heart.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith began their family life in Wall Township, with a brief stop at Camp Evans, a barracks that had been converted for use by returning servicemen and their growing families. They had three children by the time they were able to move to their own home in Allaire, NJ, where they lived for almost 30 years.

Mr. Smith was employed at Toms River Chemical as a lead burner. He was an avid baseball player in his younger years, and a coach at the South Wall Little League. He loved golf more than any other sport, and won multiple club championships at the Spring Meadow Golf Course in Allaire. He was active in the Masonic Order before he retired and began to travel extensively.

Mr. Smith and his wife lived in Eufaula, Alabama and in Georgetown, Georgia for many years before moving to Linesville in 2006 to be near their two older sons and their families.

A luncheon in memory of George F. Smith will be held at 12:00 pm on March 12, 2016 at the Old Mill Inn, 101 Old Mill Road, Spring Lake, NJ 07762.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Semper Fi Fund for wounded Marines, PO Box 555193, Camp Pendleton, CA 92055, or online at www.semperfifund.org .

Arrangements are under the direction of Royal-Coleman Funeral Home, 6028 U. S. Highway 6, Linesville.

Please share a condolence or memory of George for the family at royalcolemanfuneralhome.com.