Ronald W. Smitham

Final Flight on May 27, 2013

Ronald W. Smitham

May 09, 1936 - May 27, 2013

Ronald W. Smitham:

Ronald W. Smitham, 77, of Iron River, MI, passed away Monday, May 27, 2013 at Marquette General Hospital, Marquette, MI.

He was born May 9, 1936 in Stambaugh, MI, son of the late Theodore and Filomina “Fannie” (Abata) Smitham. He attended the Stambaugh Schools, graduating from Stambaugh High School with the Class of 1954. Following graduation he entered the U. S. Air Force, serving two tours of duty in Viet Nam. He was then stationed at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland until his honorable discharge in 1977.

Ronald married the former Mary Jean Butts on December 17, 1955 and after his retirement from the service, the couple returned to the area and made their home in Stambaugh Township.

Ronald was a member of the Masonic Lodge #174 of Maryland, VFW Ottawa Post #3134, American Legion Reino Post #21, and the Iron River Country Club and was an avid golfer.

He was preceded in death by his brother Mark Smitham.

He is survived by his beloved wife and best friend of 57 years, Mary Jean; daughter, Cheryll Martin of Cedarburg, WI; son, Guy (Ruth) Smitham of Waukesha, WI; and was a dear grandpa to five grandchildren, Misty Smitham, Brandi (James) Becker, Sonia Hirschfield, Stacy (Greg) Verhagen, and Nicole Hirschfield, and seven great grandchildren, Marissa, Jordyn, Aybree, Easton, Jacob, Brooklyn, and Kylie.

Private family services will be held.

Funeral arrangements by the Jacobs Funeral Home, Iron River.

GUEST BOOK

2013-06-03 05:34

Dear Jean, The members of Centennial Lodge #174 are very sorry to hear that Ron has laid down his working tools to Enter the Celestial Lodge Above. The God and Father of us all has prepared a place at the table for your beloved husband and called him home. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

~

James Cloud PM, Centennial Lodge #174, Upper Marlboro, MD

2013-06-01 16:05I am so thankful that we have been having or cousin"s reunion so I got to know Ron better. I am so deeply sorry and my prayers go to the family. God Bless.

~

Darlene Keeling

2013-06-01 05:34

Jeannie & Family, We are so sorry to hear of Ron's passing. He was such a friendly person. May God bless you and help you through this trying time. He will be missed by everyone that knew him. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

~

Liz & Larry Deneau

2013-05-31 00:38

Mrs. Smitham ,Cheryll, Guy and Steve, I am so sorry. I will always have fond memories of Temple Hills and the way Mr. and Mrs. Smitham were always kind and welcoming when I came to visit with Cheryll when were were growing up. May God wrap you in His arms and comfort you. Blessings.

~

Karen (Kurtz) McGowan

2013-05-30 09:35

Dear Jean &Family, I was so sorry to hear about Ron. I am proud to call him my friend. We were stationed together at Andrews Air Forge Base in Maryland. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. God Bless you all.

~

Lloyd Hutchinson

2013-05-29 15:09

I am so sorry to learn of Ron’s departure. He was a true friend, and I knew that for sure. We shared so many emails, and he has always been a great uplifting, and very thoughtful friend. I first met Ron at Lowry AFB, Colorado in 1960. We flew together, private aircraft, and H-21 helicopters there, and we have shared so many memories of those times.

Jean, my prayer: May God be with you and bless you, and family, in this time of sorrow.

~

Bill Lyster

2013-05-29 15:01

Dear Jean and Family~Our thought and prayers are with you and your family. We will miss Ron, but he is now in a better place.

God bless you,

~

Dan Abata Family

We are so happy that we had time with Ron during our cousins reunion.

2013-05-29 14:30

MJ, So sorry to hear of Ron's passing. My thoughts are with you.

~

Morgan Labadie

2013-05-29 03:44

I'm so sorry to hear of Ron's passing. What a shock. He was such a sweet guy. Always had me laughing. God bless all of you. Whats up Ron??? I will never forget you..

~

Lisa Harju

2013-05-29 02:50

Sorry to hear of Ron's passing. I knew Ron while stationed at Andrews AFB, 1st Helicopter Squdron. He taught me all I needed to know about the H-21 helicopter. My condolences are with you Jean and family. He will greatly be missed.

~

Jerold Clausius

2013-05-29 02:29

Mike and I are so sorry to hear about Ron. We always enjoyed it when you guys came to the station. Our condolences are with you Jean and your family. Ron will be greatly missed. We will miss that smile of his.

~

Denice and Michael Loia

2013-05-29 01:22

Ron was my friend and will be missed greatly. We comunicated often via email, sending helicopter, old aircraft, and just general news or jokes. It has been my honor to know Ron. We first met at Andrews AFB, both being assigned to the 1st Helicopter Squadron. He taught me many things that I needed to know about the H-21 helicopter. May God bless Ron and be with Jean and family during these sad days.

~

Buck Watson

2013-05-29 00:37

"So proudly we hailed…" as a fellow Rotorhead and Viet Nam vet, I truly realize that such a man like Ron, who has given so much, will enjoy eternal life.

~

Joe Fiorillo

2013-05-28 23:57

I didn't have the pleasure of working with Ron but as a fellow RotorHead he is one of our family. He will be missed greatly. May God rest his soul and comfort his family.

~

Bob Runninger

2013-05-28 15:46

I am deeply saddened to learn of Ron’s passing. I first met Ron when we were both stationed at Nha Trang AB, RVN (1967-1968). He was with the Rescue Detachment and I was with the 20th HS and we meet and shared experience. He helped me work on the UH-1F/P and I helped him work on the HH-43B’s as we both had experience on the opposite helicopters that we were assigned to at the time. Ron was such a great friend and fellow USAF helicopter troop and it has truly been an honor to know him and have him as a friend. I will miss our daily email traffic where we shared our experiences, told each other ‘tall tails’ and shared our love of our experiences serving our country as USAF helicopter troops. It has been a gift to me to have know this fine man. God rest his soul. God protect and comfort Jean and the Smitham family.

~

Jim Burns

2013-05-28 12:55

I am shocked and saddened to learn of Ron's passing. I cannot begin to tell you how much he and your families friendship and patronage meant to me. How I would look forward to seeing him at the dealership and what a treat it was to exchange fellowship. May God bless Ron, Jean, and your family, Sincerely, Rex.

~

Rex Angeli

2013-05-30 06:15

I am saddened to hear about Ron and will miss our almost daily emails discussing worldly but mostly unworldly subjects. He was my good friend for over 53 years and I still remember how great he treated me when I was the new guy on the block. We had much in common and when I think of him in the future it will be with respect and thanks for his friendship. We pray that Jean has all the support she needs at this sad time.

~

Donald and Annette Larsen

2013-05-28 07:06

Jeanie, I am so sorry to here of Ron's passing. He was a very dear cousin. I will never forget your visits in the summer time. We sure had some good times. Ron was great person and he had a great sense of humor. I wish we could have gotten up north more often and visited. You and your family will be in our prayers.

All our love Jim & Carol BellantonioQuote

~

James & Carol Bellantonio

"FREEDOM ISN'T FREE"

~SOMEONE PAYS FOR YOU AND ME~

"HELICOPTERS" - THE ONLY WAY TO FLY

~NEVER FORGOTTEN~