Clarence E. Smitley

Clarence E. Smitley, 87, of Dennison, O., passed away on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at Union Hospital in Dover, O., following a brief illness.

Born July 11, 1921 in Barnhill, O., he was a son of the late Phillip and Elizabeth (Bankier) Smitley.

On December 22, 1946, Clarence married the former Maxine Booth with whom he enjoyed nearly forty-five years of marriage until her passing on November 30, 1991. They were blessed with two daughters, Linda J. Tschudy of New Philadelphia and Lucinda “Cindy” Smitley of Dennison; two grandchildren, David D. Tschudy and his wife, Debra, of Daphne, Alabama and Nanette E. May and her husband, Bryan, of Chillicothe, O.; and four great grandchildren, Daniel T. and Andrew D. Tschudy of Daphne and Owen R. and Mia E. May of Chillicothe.

Clarence is also survived by three sisters-in-law, Mary M. Durbin of New Philadelphia, Donna Booth of Gnadenhutten and Ida Mae Booth of Sherrodsville; a brother-in-law, Allen G. Kinsey of New Philadelphia; and numerous nieces and nephews, including a special niece, Betty Booth, and her husband, William.

In addition to his wife and parents, Clarence was preceded in death by his stepfather, Charles Smitley; his son-in-law, Ronald D. Tschudy; two brothers, Ernest and Phillip Smitley; his sister and brother-in-law, Beatrice and Lemoine Barrick; and brothers- and sisters-in-law, Glen and Treva Booth, Donald L. and Anna Mae Haines, William Booth, Arleen Kinsey, Sam and Joan Booth, Daniel Booth, Betty Booth, and Harold and Norma Booth.

A veteran of World War II, Clarence served his country in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1946, having soldiered in the European Theater. He continued his association with his comrades as a Life Member of the American Legion’s Waterford Post #230.

With the exception of his military service, Clarence was a lifelong resident of Tuscarawas County. He attended Midvale High School and was a member of Midvale United Methodist Church. He retired as a machinist for Gallagher Bros. in Uhrichsville in 1986.

Clarence was also a longtime auctioneer, currently working with Rick Keffer of Keffer Auctions. He had previously been affiliated with Don R. Wallick Auctions and with Herb Beitzel. He had also had a real estate license and had been affiliated with Pissocra Mathias Realty. He was a former member of the Ohio Auctioneers’ Association and the Ohio Association of Realtors.

A member of Mystic Tie F. & A. M. #194 since 1962, he had served as tyler for over forty years and was a member of Scottish Rite Valley of Canton. He had been a member of Arbutus Order of Eastern Star, as well.

An avid supporter of local high school athletics, Clarence was a Life Member of the Claymont Booster Club and was a two-time past president. In 1983, he was awarded the Robert McCullough Memorial Award for his service.

Clarence had also been an active member of the Eastern Ohio Field Trial Association, having held all offices with that organization. He ran field trial dogs for many years and also enjoyed selling at the Kenton National Field Trial each year.

Services for Clarence, officiated by Rev. James A. Huston, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 28, at the R.K. Lindsey Funeral Home in Dennison. Interment will follow beside his beloved wife in Evergreen Burial Park at New Philadelphia.

Family and friends are invited to call at the funeral home from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home, during which time a Masonic Memorial Service will be held at 7:45 p.m. Those wishing to honor Clarence’s memory by a charitable contribution are encouraged to do so to Hospice of Tuscarawas County and Midvale United Methodist Church.
R.K. Lindsey Funeral Home, Inc.
(740) 922-1970
www.lindseyfh.com