Chelten W. "Skip" Smith Jr.

Chelten W. "Skip" Smith Jr., age 97, passed away December 25, 2025. Born in Altoona, PA on September 25, 1928, he was the son of the late Chelten W. Smith Sr. and Ruth (Meyer) Smith.
Skip grew up with his sister Jacqueline and parents in Saxton, PA until moving to Williamsburg, PA in 1944. A graduate of Williamsburg High School, he was president of the Student Council, a member of the basketball team, and played the trombone in the band. After graduating from high school, he attended Bucknell University where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi Social Fraternity and the Bucknell Bison Band. He graduated from Bucknell in 1950 earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. Later in life he earned his MBA from Case Western University where he was a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma International Honorary Business Society graduating first in his class with straight A's.
After graduating from Bucknell he worked as a chemistry and biology teacher at Honesdale HS in Honesdale, PA. until 1951 when he was drafted into the U.S. Air Force. In the service he completed Basic Training at Sampson AFB in Geneva, NY, Technical Training at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, MS, and Flight Training at Ellington AFB in Houston, TX. While at Ellington AFB he served as Cadet Corps Commander with the rank of Cadet Colonel. During the Korean War he served with the 36th Air Rescue Squadron, 3rd Air Rescue Group as a navigator of a 6-man crew flying the Gruman SA-16 "Albatross" amphibian airplane. For two years during the Korean War he was assigned to air-sea rescue duty near Seoul, Korea. Returning to the states as First Lieutenant in 1955 he was assigned to the Malmstrom AFB in Great Falls, MT where he served until his discharge in March of 1956.
After completing his military service Skip began his professional career as an Industrial Engineer with American Viscose Corp. in Meadville, PA. Over the course of his career he held positions of increasing responsibility in Engineering, Finance, Budgeting, Manufacturing Engineering, and Manufacturing Management, while working at Owens-Corning Fiberglas, Hammermill Paper, American Sterilizer, Modern Industries, and LORD Corp. He retired from Lord Corp. in 1990 as Manufacturing Manager. In addition to his career in business, he was an adjunct faculty member at The Pennsylvania State University, The Behrend College, from 1970 to 1993 where he taught evening classes in Business Management.
Skip was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, Juniata Lodge No. 282 F & A.M., in Hollidaysburg, PA, The Society of Manufacturing Engineers, and was past president of the American Institute of Industrial Engineers, Erie Chapter. His passions included golf, tennis, geography, meteorology, finance, trains, travel and anything Penn State.
It was at a New Year's Eve party on December 31, 1956, while working in Meadville, PA, that he met his wife-to-be, Joan T. Seigley. They were married on October 19, 1957, and as the saying goes "The rest is history". Skip and Joan had one son, Chelten Stephen Smith of Sparta, NJ, and two grandchildren, Molly and Ryan. Skip and Joan were married for 55 years until Joan passed away July 9, 2013. They lived a truly wonderful life together and were the epitome of love. Skip was a truly amazing husband, father and grandfather, and we were all so blessed to have had him in our lives. We miss you, and will always love you Dad.
Friends are invited to call on Friday, January 2, 2026 at the Brugger Funeral Homes & Crematory, 1595 West 38th Street from 2 pm until a time of a service at 6 pm, with Rev. Britney Knight. Burial will be private in Alto-Reste Park, Altoona.