Fred “Jay” Smith of Bethel Park PA, lived an amazing 94 years. He was born on September 17, 1926 in Centerville, PA and passed quietly on November 25, 2020.
Jay is survived by Joy, his loving wife of 73 years, his children, Larry (Marsha), Salli (David) Betler, and Brian (Missy) and his siblings Don, Linda Raleigh, Sharon Reese, and Carol Santi, his 6 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. He is predeceased by his parents Fred and Helen, and his siblings Ralph, Wilbur, and Shirley Fisher.
Jay served in the Navy during World War II. After the war, he graduated from Slippery Rock College in 1949 with a Phys. Ed Degree. While there he played basketball, baseball and football and received an all-state football honorable mention as tight end.
Jay’s athletic accomplishments were a large part of his life. After playing semi-pro sandlot baseball for several years, he formed, managed and played for the F Jay Smith Blue Jays, a men’s softball team that won titles and tournaments in the western PA area. At the end of his softball career he played tennis and paddle tennis. He formed the Peters Creek Paddle Club, whose teams won titles in the Pittsburgh League. He was a St. Clair Country Club Paddle Tennis champion and won numerous local and regional tournaments. He obtained professional instructor status in paddle tennis and made himself available at no charge to countless beginning and active paddle players. In tennis, he won the Allegheny County over 50 men’s doubles championship.
Jay was an independent businessman. He owned a commercial painting company in Bethel Park for over 50 years that served customers all over the eastern United States. He joined the Shriners in 1963 and achieved 32nd degree status.
Jay was active in politics, having served Bethel Park as the head of the Parks Commission. He was a supporter of conservative values and candidates, believing that those who hold our country’s Constitution and Bill of Rights in high esteem were the only leaders for our America.
One of Jay’s biggest contribution to others was his own backyard. Before there were parks in Bethel, he built a lighted and paved basketball, volleyball and badminton court for the community’s kids. Over thirty years, hundreds of area youth known and unknown to him learned valuable lessons of sportsmanship and life on that court.
Jay was a hunter. Early, he hunted rabbits behind beagles with his father and brothers in western PA. On one venture he flushed a Ruffed Grouse, which started his love affair with grouse hunting. He introduced his children to hunting and hunted grouse well into his 70s. He was a charter member of George King’s Ancient and Honorable Order of Brush Worn Partridge Hunters. He was a life member of The Ruffed Grouse Society and the National Rifle Association.
When ATV’s were introduced locally, he purchased his first two in 1984. His riding continued into 2020. He believed it to be a family sport that taught safety, care of the environment and good choices.
After retirement, Jay used his love of music, storytelling and humor by volunteering in a kitchen band. For twenty years they visited nursing homes or senior centers and were featured at the Jefferson County Fair. Subsequently, he and Joy traveled to the Senior Center in California, PA where they shared country music with their “jam buddies.”
He was a loving, caring husband and father who enjoyed telling stories, loved music and had a warm Christian spirit.
Visitation will be held on Monday, November 30th from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at the David Henney Funeral Home, 6364 Library Road (RT 88), Library. DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS, WE ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO WEAR MASKS AND PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Shriner Children’s Hospital. www.davidhenneyfuneralhome.com
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