Franklin Delano Smith

Franklin Delano Smith, Sr, 89 passed away on October 22, 2023. He was born on November 12, 1933, to Walter & Eva (Bird) Smith in Toledo, Ohio. He leaves to cherish his memory wife, Joanne Smith, daughters: Allison (Tim) McCormick and Bonnie Dickson, sons: Frankie (Jenny) Smith, Bobby (Rhonda) Dickson, Bill (Julie) Dickson and Brad (Lesa Fulk) Dickson. It gave Frank great joy being a grandpa to Clayton Smith, Alexis Smith, Brian Huff, Kevin Huff, Matt (Aubrey Garrison) Huff, Kelsey Huff, Brent (Dion Charley) Dickson, Lucy (Noah) Stump, Lucas Dickson, Colter Dickson, Keaton Dickson, Carter Dickson, Jimmy Huff and David Huff. As well as extended family Rich (Vera) Huff. He will be missed by his faithful fur baby Cooper. He is also survived by brother Ed (Mary) Smith, brother-in-law Logger Roberts, sisters-in-law Ruth Skeans and Carol Janssen. He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings Lynn, Eve, Tootsie, Helen, Dort, Dud, Bess, Virginia, Dill, Eleanor, Hade, Marge, Bob, Dick, George and Duck as well as his first wife, Mary (Roberts).

Frank attended Scott High School and left early to join the Navy, serving his country for 4 years. He later took night classes completing his G.E.D so he could apply for the apprenticeship program at the Jeep Corporation. He proudly worked there as an electrician for 37 years until he retired in 1996. Frank was a very hard worker often pulling 8 - 12 hour shifts sometimes 7 days a week. He taught his family that if you work hard, you get to play hard, and wow did he enjoy vacations. He would often take 4 weeks off at a time to unwind and travel the country. It didn’t matter if he was in a camper or hotel. If there was a beach close by or old country roads, he was a happy man. If there was a flea market, garage sale or secondhand store, the car was stopping. He was a junkanista and loved to look at other people’s things. Upon retiring he and Joanne purchased a second home in Englewood, Florida where they would spend 6 months each year. He enjoyed getting to know the neighbors and participating in the activities offered at the community hall.

Growing up with so many brothers and sisters, he always made time for family. He lost his mom at a very early age and was raised by his older sister, Marge. He called her mom and spent as much time as he could with her. His brother Ed was his best friend and he loved making memories with him. He enjoyed entertaining and was generous to a fault. His door was always open and there was a seat at the table for anyone who happened by. There was always coffee, pop and/or something to eat. He never let anyone get out of his house hungry.

Frank inherited a green thumb and loved to dig in the dirt. He could stay outside for hours planting flowers and tending to his garden. His family was artistically talented, and he excelled in that department. Over the years, Frank was always crafting something. He did ceramics, woodworking, took painting lessons, and later in life developed a knack for stained glass. He signed up for a beginner’s class and was a natural. If you’ve been lucky enough to receive one of his treasures, you have something special. He was a proud member of the Toledo Stained Glass Guild at the Toledo Botanical Gardens.

He was a man of great faith and accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior in 1975. He switched churches several times over the years but always asked to join the choir. Singing was something he loved doing with Joanne. For a few years he belonged to the Sylvania Senior Center chorus where he enjoyed going to sing for the “old” people at the nursing homes and participating in their annual show. He frequently attended the Monday night Jam Sessions in Delta and Toledo Country Live @ St. Andrews United Methodist Church in Toledo.

Family and friends are invited for visitation on Wednesday, October 25th from 5 pm to 8 pm and Thursday, October 26th from 10 am to 11 am until the funeral service at 11 am at Walker Funeral Home, 5155 Sylvania Avenue, Toledo, Ohio. Burial at Toledo Memorial Park will be private and held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider doing a random act of kindness for someone. Donations can be made to Memory Lane Care Center in Toledo or Hospice of Northwest Ohio in Perrysburg in his honor.