James E. Smith, 76, of Huntington, IN, died Monday, April 27, 2015, at 3 a.m. at Parkview Regional Medical Center, in Fort Wayne.
Mr. Smith, a 1956 graduate of Bippus High School, retired as general manager of Hiner Transport, where he had worked for 27 years. He had previously worked at Schacht Rubber Company for five years, Memcor for 11 years and Curtin Productions for five years. He was a member of the Huntington Church of the Brethren, where he was a past chairman of the Stewards Commission and had served on various other committees. He was a member of the Huntington Jaycees, where he had held chairmanships at the state and local levels and was named Director of the Year in 1970.
He was a past president of the Huntington Lions Club, Kiwanis Club, Industrial Management Council, South Side Business Association, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Huntington County Rural Sewer District and Bel Air Association. He served with the United Way, participated in YMCA Indian Guides and was a board member for many years for Huntington County Baseball. He coached Kim League, Pony League and Little League for 18 years. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police, Indiana Motor Truck Association and Moose Lodge 837, in Huntington.
He was born June 25, 1938, in Huntington County to Fred W. and Annetta G. Bartrom Smith. He married Brema J. Altman on June 28, 1959, on Huntington, and she survives.
Additional survivors include two sons, Parke E. (Beth Ann) Smith, of Leesburg, and Price A. (Connie) Smith, of Huntington; a brother, Jon W. (Christine) Smith, of Fort Wayne; two sisters, Peggy Stahl and Jean (Don) Johnson, both of Huntington; five grandchildren, Nathan Moore, Nicole (Jason) Lang, Alan (Erin) Moore, Desiree Hartwig and Tristan Criss; and eight great-grandchildren.
Calling is Thursday, April 30, 2015, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Bailey-Love Mortuary, Huntington. A service will be held at the mortuary on Friday, May 1, 2015, at 10 a.m., with Rev. Paul Hirschy officiating.
Those unable to attend may view the service on the Bailey-Love Mortuary channel at www.livestream.com. Burial will be at Gardens of Memory Cemetery, Huntington County.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Lions Club Eye Bank, Huntington County Baseball or American Heart Association, all in care of Bailey-Love Mortuary, 35 W. Park Drive, Huntington, IN 46750.
To sign the online guest book, visit www.baileylove.com.