Ramon A. Smith

Berlin Center- Funeral services will be held at 11 am Thursday at the Ellsworth Presbyterian Church for Ramon Smith who died Sunday afternoon. Ray was born January 17, 1925 in Sharon Pa., the son of Mathew W. and Ethel M. Smith. Ray was an active member of Ellsworth Presbyterian Church where he was an Elder and served on many church boards. He was a member of the Ellsworth VFW Post 9571, Charter member of West Middlesex VFW, member of Berlin Ellsworth Ruritan Club, GM Golf League, member of the Experimental Aircraft Association. Ray loved to travel and was also a farmer and formerly belonged to Mahoning County Farm Bureau. He graduated from Westminster College in 1950. After graduation he began his career with General Motors working as a salaried accountant for 32 years retiring in 1982. Ray served his country during WWII in the Army Air Force from 1943 to 1946. He served in the Pacific Theater as a B-17 pilot in the 5th Army Air Force, 6th Emergency Squadron. He flew cover for a secret mission to drop the second Atomic Bomb "Fat Man" on Nagasaki, Japan on August 9, 1945. Ray will be missed by his children; Philip (Debbie) Smith of Austintown, Kent (Linda) Smith of Berlin Center, Cecil (Cris) Smith of Spokane Washington, brother Terry (Marion) Smith of Reading, PA. 13 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. And his long time close friend Melva Lester. He was preceded in death by his wife Isabelle Craig Smith whom he married June 4, 1948 and who died February 10, 1994, son Brian D. and daughter in law Kimberly Smith, grandson Ramon Smith II, granddaughter Vicky Smith and sister Patricia Smith. Family and friends may call from 5-8 pm Wednesday at the Lane Funeral Home Canfield Chapel and from 10-11am Thursday at the church prior to funeral services. The family requests that memorial contributions take the form of donations to the Ellsworth Presbyterian Church Elevator Fund. Burial will be in Ellsworth cemetery with full military honors by the Ellsworth VFW Honor Squad which Ray served on for many years.