Obituaries

Harry Gene ‘Archie’ Smith, 85, of Fairmount City (Alcola) passed from this life on Sunday, July 27, 2014  at 11: 55 PM  in his home surrounded by his wife, Donna and daughters Kim, Tracy and Mary.  He gave it a good fight in his extensive battle with prostrate cancer.

Gene was born January 10, 1929 on the family farm in Beautiful Lookout, Redbank Township,  Armstrong County, and he was the son of Wm. Spurgeon and Lula I Smith.

Arch served his county as a Private First Class in the US Army Battery B 903^rd Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion.  He served from January 1947 thru May 1948.  He was stationed in North Carolina, and also served in Panama where he helped to construct the Panama Canal.  Gene was a heavy equipment operator for the Operating Engineers Local 66,  and helped build the power plants at Keystone (Elderton), Homer City and Reesedale.  He also helped clean up after the Johnstown flood of 1977.

He  had a ‘green thumb’ and enjoyed planting his garden while watching it grow.  He was always willing to share plants or the harvested crop and more than willing to give gardening advice to those not as skilled and experienced as he in gardening.

He was a member of the VFW and Eagles Club, both of New Bethlehem.  He had his own personal stool at Desperado’s (Redbank).

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Donna Freedline whom he married on May 23, 1964; daughters, Kim Burford, Tracy Smith Kells and Mary (Jeffrey) Neiswonger;  grandchildren Jared (Carrie) Spence, Tamra (Larry) Whitling, Steven Burford, Lindsey Lee Brocious, Taylor Kells, Dane Kells, Colt (Sarah) Kennemuth, Kye Kennemuth, Cade Kennemuth,  Jeffrey Neiswonger, Cessa Neiswonger;  great-grandchildren, Hope, Antony, Jared Spence Jr. and Gabriel Spence, Peyton, Parker and Preston Kennemuth, Creed Kennemuth, Keegan Shreckengost, Crew Burford, Mya Roudybush, James Freedline, Makayla, Joseph and Jace Whitling.

He is also survived by one brother, John Earl (Louise) Smith and three sisters, Mary Smith, Betty Nolf and Dorothy (Edgar) Kunselman, several nieces and nephews, and several good friends and neighbors.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Leo Ray Smith and William C.  Smith, nephews William (Bill) Michael Smith, David Lee Smith, and a great granddaughter Jayden Spence.

There will be no visitation. A private family graveside service will be held at the Mt. Zion Cemetery, Oak Ridge, Mahoning Township, Armstrong County, with his sister, Rev. Dottie Kunselman officiating.

Arrangements are at the direction of the Alcorn Funeral Home in Hawthorn.

Memorial contributions can be sent to the Clarion Forest VNA Hospice, 271 Perkins Road, Clarion Pa 16214.