Merle H. Smith

Merle H. Smith, 92, of Perrysburg, Ohio died Thursday, March 05, 2015 at Heartland of Perrysburg surrounded by his family. He was born on February 17, 1923 in Toledo, Ohio to Horace Henry and Margaret (Slawson) Smith and he married Stella Marie Anna Johnson in Everglade City, Florida on December 11, 1943. Together they raised four children. Merle was a 1940 graduate of Bowling Green High School. Merle proudly served his country in the U.S. Air Force and retired as a Master Sergeant in 1971. He later participated in Honor Flight. He began his career as a mechanic for Eastern Airlines, where he met his wife Stella of 65 years. In 1973 he started his own business, Mini-Engine Repair Inc. in Perrysburg. Merle was a member of St. Rose Catholic Church in Perrysburg and the Knights of Columbus as a 4th Degree Grand Knight. He was a founding member of Kiwanis Club of Perrysburg in 1983 and served as Past Lt. Governor. Merle was also a past board member of the Perrysburg Symphony Orchestra. He was instrumental in installing the Perrysburg Service Organization Sign, which is located as you enter Perrysburg from the Maumee Bridge. He enjoyed traveling, playing poker, going to the casino and even held a private pilot’s license. Merle is survived by his loving children, Merle A. (Christine) Smith of Pataskala, OH., Janet C. (Charles) Larrance of Mt. Pleasant, MI., Nadine M. (Thomas) Dlugas of Maumee, OH. and Michael W. (Barbara) Smith of Perrysburg, OH.; grandchildren, Patrick (Maria) Larrance of Mt. Pleasant, MI., Stacy (Dominic) Finnerty of Farwell, MI., Victoria (Fernando) Gonzalez of Toledo, OH., Troy Ames of Toledo, OH., Erik (Ashley) Smith of Morgan Hill, CA., Stephan (Andrea) Ames of Toledo, OH., Cory (Amy) Smith of Pataskala, OH. and Cody Smith of Pataskala, OH.; 4 loving great-grandchildren; brother, Fred Smith of Oklahoma; sister, Lynn Green of Columbus, OH. He is preceded in death by wife, Stella M. Smith. Friends will be received on Monday, March 9, 2015 from 4:00 to 9:00 P.M. in the Witzler-Shank Funeral Home, 222 East South Boundary St., Perrysburg, Ohio 43551 (419-874-3133) where a Knights of Columbus service will be held at 7:00 P.M.. A Funeral Mass will be Tuesday, March 10, 2015, at 10:30 A.M. in St. Rose Catholic Church, 215 E. Front St. Perrysburg. Burial will follow at Fort Meigs Union Cemetery. Memorial Contributions may be made to Perrysburg Kiwanis Club Scholarship Foundation or the Perrysburg Senior Center.