Earl Smith, age 85, of Fort Loramie, passed away of natural causes early Wednesday morning, October 13, 2021, at the Upper Valley Medical Center in Troy, Ohio.

He was born August 17, 1936, in Jamestown, Tennessee, to the late Sam & Myrtie (Beaty) Smith. On July 8, 1961, at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Newport, Earl married Thelma A. (Meyer) Smith who survives.

Also surviving are eight children: Mike & Becky Smith of Piqua, Lynne & Don Buckingham of Fort Loramie, Patricia & Larry Phlipot of Houston, Debra Siefring & Steve Burghy of St. Marys, Stephen & Jana Smith of Augusta, GA, Pamela & Roger Masters of Clover, SC, Ronald Smith & Heidi Dillard of Kansas City, KS, and Angie & Mohamad Ndoye of Dayton; 25 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren; one brother, Clayton Smith of Indianapolis, IN and several brothers & sisters-in-law: Ralph Meyer of Coldwater, Sr. Norma Meyer of Cincinnati, Linus & Sylvia Meyer of Maria Stein, Harold & Janice Meyer of St. Marys and Mary Ann & Dave Groff of Fort Wayne, IN along with numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by one grandson, Kyle Masters; 12 siblings: Delphia Daniels, Hewey and Otis Smith, Delia Layne, Rosie Beaty, Clovis Smith, Velma Knotts, Stella, Clive, Josephine, Cluey and infant Calvin Smith as well as sister-in-law, Marilyn Meyer and a brother-in-law, Joseph Meyer.

Mr. Smith was a 1955 graduate of Rhea County High School of Evensville, TN. Shortly following the Korean War, Earl served in the US Air Force and had been stationed in Japan for 27 months. In 1995, he retired from the Marwil Products Co. in Fort Loramie where he had been employed 40 years. Earl was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church and a past member of St. Remy Knights of Columbus. In his leisure, Earl enjoyed fishing and playing cards, especially Pinochle.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:00 AM, Saturday, October 16, 2021, at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Newport with Rev. Steven Shoup presiding. Interment will follow at the church cemetery.

Friends may call Saturday 9:00 to 10:30 AM at Gehret Funeral Home in Fort Loramie.

Memorials may be made to the Fort Loramie Rescue Squad.

Private condolences may be expressed at www.gehretfuneralhome.com.