It is with celebration that we share the following news with our dear friends and family:
CLIFFORD L. SMITH JR
., “
BUD
“, Age 89, Heaven Bound getting a new body on June 26,2022.
Born in Hudson, NY to Clifford L. Smith, Sr. and Fannie Main Smith.
Predeceased in death by sister, Barbara Jones .
Survived by wife of 65 years, Ruth Steitz Smith Leaving a legacy of three children, Brenda, Audrey and Clifford L. Smith, III.
Also survived are six grandchildren and five great grandchildren
Bud served God, country, and family. He left home at age 13 to attend Manlius prep school; then onto Nichols Jr. College in 1952 and then to American International College. Served in the US Army with a tour in Verdun, France.
He met the love of his life, Ruth Steitz, married in 1956 with 3 children to follow.
His professional career was to carry on the family business “Smith’s Tire” starting with his father and two uncles, in Hudson, NY and grew to three stores 60 years later, which he sold and retired from.
Every community Bud lived in, he served in church; Claverack Dutch Reformed in Claverick, NY; United Methodist and Grace Community Church in Lancaster. He served as a Rotarian in Hudson, NY and Lancaster, PA.
Bud served on the EMS board in Lancaster, PA. Bud and Ruth were ambassadors for Willow Valley Community while they lived at the Gables and the Lakes. They are infamous for their “dumpster dives” collecting aluminum cans for the church’s donation drive! He volunteered at the post office in the “Lakes” one day a week.
Bud loved to sing in the church choir, Allegra choir. Other hobbies included golf, and travel.
He was blessed beyond measure.
Service
at Grace Community Church, 212 Peach Bottom Rd, Willow Street, PA will take place on
July 25th at 2:00 PM
. To view the service online please go to this link on July 25th (the link is used by Grace Community and there may be other things there prior to the 25th):
https://youtu.be/NOpXKUaKBIA
In lieu of flowers: contributions can be made in Bud’s memory to Grace Community Church (
http://www.gccws.net
); or Deerfoot lodge (
http://deerfoot.org
)