Ross L. Smith

Ross L. Smith, 91, formerly of Strodes Mills, entered the gates of heaven at 12:50 a.m., Saturday, September 17, 2016 at Valley View Retirement Community, Belleville.

Born April 16, 1925 in Altoona, he was a son of the late Minnie P. (Weaver) and R. Leroy Smith.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Rhonda L. Heller, his brother, Joseph E. Smith, and his half-brother, Floyd A. Ramsey. 

He is survived by: his wife, Phyllis Jean (Gross) Smith, also of Valley View, whom he married on July 19, 1948; son, Daniel R. Smith and wife, Brenda, of Apex, North Carolina; grandchildren, Todd M. Heller and wife, Mary, of Calif., Danie Heimbach and husband, Clint, of Missouri, and Haley Skaer and husband, Erik, of Va.; and great-grandchildren, Tallon and Ryder Heimbach, and Zane and Cullen Skaer.

Ross graduated from Lewistown High School, Class of 1943.

He was a WWII Army veteran and served in the European theater with the 131st Anti-Aircraft Battalion, 79th Infantry Division, 313th Infantry from 1943 to Dec. 1, 1946, achieving the rank of First Lieutenant.

He was a member of Calvary Bible Church, Lewistown.  

He retired from Standard Steel as a systems development manager on Jan 1, 1983 with 31 years of service. 

Following his retirement, Ross and Phyllis became passionate antique dealers, with shops located in Strodes Mills, Lewisburg, and Duncansville.

Ross was a board member of the Mifflin County Housing Authority and served on school boards for the former Granville, Rothrock, and Lewistown-Granville schools.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 24 at Heller-Hoenstine Funeral Homes, Woodlawn, 200 N. Main St., Lewistown, with the Reverend Gerald Peachey and the Reverend Nelson Roth officiating.

Viewing services will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 23 and from 10 to 11 a.m. on Sat., Sept. 24 at the funeral home. 

Interment will take place in Juniata Memorial Park, Lewistown, with military honors by VFW Post 7011.

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