Jack B. Smith

Jack B. Smith, Age 93, of Vandalia, passed away Saturday, July 12, at home with his family. He was born Jan 28, 1927 in Cleveland, VA to Carl B. & Edith (Rasnake) Smith. Jack was preceded in death by his wife, Hattie; sons, Steve Smith and Robert B. Smith; brothers, William B. and Carl B. (Pete) Smith. Jack was born and raised in Russell County Virginia.  While he was yet a child, his mother Edith (Rasnake) Smith passed away and his older brother, William B. Smith, died in World War II.  As a young man, Jack joined the Army Air Corp and served October 29, 1945 to April 11, 1947. After serving his country, Jack left Virginia in pursuit of jobs in the booming industrial base in Cincinnati, Ohio.  Although, Jack lived most of his life in Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio, he returned frequently to Russell County.  When the mountains and family memories are in a man's heart, he can not be kept away from the place of his childhood for long.  Stories of Cracker's Neck, the origins of the B. Smiths, moonshine, mountain music, and growing up on the farm were handed down. While Jack was working in Dayton, Ohio he found his true love, Hattie Mae Smith who was also from the same area of VIrginia.  They secretly eloped to Indiana because Hattie loved her job and during the 1950s, her company laid off married women to make room for young men. Their secret wasn't kept long and Hattie quit her job as she was soon expecting their first child, Steven Jack Smith.   Shortly thereafter, Jack and Hattie had twins, William B. and Robert B. Smith. They built a home in Vandalia, Ohio and were active in serving God together a First Baptist Church, Vandalia, Ohio.   Unfortunately, tragedy struck way to early, as Hattie passed away of non-Hodgkins lymphoma in her early 30s while carrying their stillborn son.  Hattie's family and Jack's sisters helped him with the three young children.  His devoted sisters included Iva Deane Reynolds (married to Jack Reynolds) from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; Nellie Faye Combs of Cincinnati,Ohio and Sue Shields (married to Jack Shields, deceased) of Abingdon, Virginia.

Jack's father, Carl B. Smith Sr, married a second time to Fay (Hart) Smith. Carl and Fay gave birth to Jack's half-sister, Dana Musick (married to Robert Musick) of Russell County Virginia and half-brother, Joseph B. Smith of Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Joe and Dana were close in age to Jack's oldest son.  Although there was a large age difference between them, Jack, Dana and Joe were extremely close.  Again, the love of the mountains, music, home cooking, and family traditions built bonds that live long after death.
Jack found happiness again as he married Bonnie (Marshall) Smith, deceased. He received five stepchildren: Gary Marshall of Vandalia, Ohio who is deceased; Vickie Davis (Terry) of Temecula, California; Allen Marshall (Kathy) of Englewood, Ohio; Glenn Marshall of Atlanta, Georgia who is deceased, and Robert Marshall of Dayton, Ohio who is deceased. Jack and Bonnie had one child, Jackie (Smith) Murray, married to David Murray of Dayton, Ohio. Jack's and Bonnie’s lives were happy and days were filled with laughter, backyard baseball, and swimming at Poplar Creek. Jack worked two jobs at the US Postal Service (from which he eventually retired) and Harris Seybold while Bonnie ran a household overflowing with teenage children. The once happy household ended in divorce. However, Jack and Bonnie remained close, and shared a mutual admiration and concern for each other until her death.

Everybody loved Jack, as he was a kind and gentle person who focused on the goodness in this world. His quick, witty sense of humor kept  =you laughing. He was a wonderful father, adored by his children.  He had a soft spot for children, especially the rambunctious ones. He is survived by his sisters, Iva Deane Reynolds (Jack), Faye Combs, Sue Shields, Dana Musick (Robert); brother, Joseph B Smith; children,William B. Smith (Patricia) &  Jackie Murray (David); step-children, Vickie Davis (Terry) & Allen Marshall (Kathy); grandchildren, Jessica Kaul (Will), Russell B. Smith (Kelly); Christine Broomhall (Jason), Justin B. Smith (Amanda), Jennifer Kegley (Eric), Joshua Murray, and Jared Murray; thirteen great grandchildren; and, numerous neices and nephews.  A graveside service will be held at 12:00 noon, Thursday, July 16, at Dayton Memorial Park Cemetery. Morton & Whetstone funeral home is in charge of arrangements.