Frank O. Smith

Napoleon - Frank O. Smith, 96, of Napoleon passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 16, 2024, at CHP Defiance Hospice Center. He was born on May 25, 1928, to Frank L. and Lillian Rose (Simmons) Smith. Frank was a 1947 graduate of Napoleon High School. He was on the high school football team and played in every game. On March 15, 1947, he married the love of his life, Mary E. Wieding, and she preceded him in death on June 24, 2021. They shared seventy-four wonderful years together and raised nine children. Farming was Frank's life; he saw farming as a passion not work. He proudly worked on his family farm until the age of eighty-five. In 1990, he retired from St. Paul Lutheran Church as a custodian.

He was the first farmer to receive the title of First American Farmer in Henry County in 1947. He also won eighth place in the World's Fair for his Gentleman Giant Corn harvest. In 1955, he won Best Henry County Dairy Herd. Like Mary, he was a serious and determined Pinochle card player. It was dangerous to allow them both on the same team, you could never win! They were both very competitive to say the least. Frank was an avid bowler. He competed in forty-nine USBC National Bowling Tournaments. He insisted on driving to every competition but finally agreed to fly to one of them. That was his first and last flight.

He was also a huge Cleveland Indians and Cavaliers fan. He especially liked pitcher, Bob Feller. Sundays, after church and the chores were done, he loved spending time with his children; playing baseball, kickball, croquet and many family activities in the yard. Frank was a loving father, grandfather and friend. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

Left to cherish his memory are his children, Carolyn (Russell) Bigger of Ridgeville Corners, Frank L. (Benie) Smith Jr of Archbold, John (Judy) Smith of Ridgeville Corners, Marilyn (Paul Sr.) Boltz of Freemont, Thomas (Debra) Smith of Montpelier, Frederick Smith of Ridgeville Corners, Rosemary Kennedy of Kissimmee, Florida. and Julie (Tracy) Busch of Napoleon. He is also survived by thirty-nine grandchildren, sixty great-grandchildren, and nine great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Lillian Smith, loving wife, Mary E. Smith and daughter, Janice McCague.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 20, 2024, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Walker-Hoening Mortuary (333 W. Main St.) of Napoleon. Funeral Services will be on Friday, June 21, 2024, at Christ United Methodist Church (1255 Glenwood Ave) of Napoleon at 11:30 a.m. There will be a visitation one hour prior to the services. He will be laid to rest at Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery (2499 Adams Ridge Road) of Defiance. Memorials in Frank's memory may be considered to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, St. Labre Indian School, St. Joseph's Indian School or Hidden Exotics Florida. Friends are invited to share a memory of Frank and sign the online guestbook at www.hoeningfuneralhome.com.