Edward R. Smith

Ed (also affectionately known as Pops or Papa) passed away on Monday, July 28, 2025 in Jackson Township, Ohio, at the age of 77. Ed was born in Akron on November 23, 1947, grew up in Ellet, and graduated from Ellet High School in 1965.

In August of 1966, Ed went to work for Goodyear Aerospace in Akron as an aircraft woodworker. It was August of 1967 when he joined the United States Army, serving with the 167th Signal Company in the Vietnam War prior to his honorable discharge in August, 1969. Ed was a proud Vietnam Veteran, and was more often than not wearing a hat, a T-shirt, or his jacket displaying his service. He was a recipient of the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, as well as a Good Conduct Medal.

Upon returning from overseas, Ed went back to work for Goodyear and continued to work for the company through numerous changes in ownership. After decades of loyal service and steadfast employment, Ed retired from Building Integrated Services in September of 2020.

Ed was a Jack of all trades - always building, fixing, tinkering, and troubleshooting. If there was something that needed fixing, Ed knew how to fix it. He lived to help others and found great joy in teaching his children and his grandchildren valuable life skills. If he wasn’t working on a project at home, you could probably find Ed at Menches Brothers in Green with his wife Jean Ann.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Edward G. Smith and Irene (née: Goulding) and Frank Puckett; and his brother, Richard A. Wood. He is survived by his wife of nearly 45 years and the love of his life, Jean Ann; his sons, John Smith (Melissa) of Hartville and Geoff Smith (Kim) of New Franklin; his daughters, Jenny Smith (Mark Thomas) of Santee, California and Megan Lang (Ryan) of New Franklin; his grandchildren Logan Smith, Morgan McCloskey (Adam), Ashton and Madison Wills, Ronan and Camden Lang, and Kenzley Smith.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, August 10, 2025, from 2 to 4 p.m., with a short service immediately following at Hopkins-Lawver Funeral Home at 3553 N. Dale St. NW, Uniontown, OH 44685.

A private burial service will be held for immediate family only at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery in Rittman, Ohio the following day.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to either The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration at theaftd.org or Vietnam Veterans of America at vva.org.