Curt Thomas Smith

FAIRBORN — Curt Thomas Smith, 67, of Fairborn, OH, passed away surrounded by the loved ones he cherished the most on Friday, July 9, 2021. Curt was born February 9, 1954 to Eugene B. Smith and Dolly M. (Wood). He was raised in Park Layne and discovered at a young age his love of the game of baseball and played throughout his youth. He was also a proud member of the 1971 Tecumseh Arrows Championship Football team, as well as a record holder for many years for the Tecumseh High School Track Relay Team. His greatest high school accomplishment was making Rebecca J. Sharp his forever love. Curt graduated from Tecumseh High School in 1972. Married in 1975, Curt and Becky would go on to welcome four sons, the first in 1976, followed with 1979, 1982 and 1985. His four boys would become his entire world. He worked three jobs at times to ensure that his family was taken care of and still managed to coach countless baseball teams, serve as a groundskeeper and eventually the board president for Fairborn Wee Hawks. He was a man who wore many hats and impacted so many of Fairborn's youth through his ten plus years spent coaching in the Fairborn Little League park. Curt would go on to retire from Chrysler in 2003 and devote all of his love and attention to Becky and the many grandchildren that spent their weekends and summers being spoiled by Mamaw and Papaw. There wasn't an engine he wouldn't fix, a plate of Becky's spaghetti he could pass up, a bottle of ketchup he wouldn't squeeze onto his plate, but the thing he loved more than anything was his family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Eugene B. and Dolly M. Smith. He is survived by his wife, Rebecca J. (Sharp); sons, Steven R. (Cassandra), Matthew S. (Lindsay), Joshua L. (Megan) and Michael E; 11 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; sisters, Karen Eason (Dayton), Mary (Larry) Jones (Park Layne); as well as numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. "Well, beat the drum and hold the phone - the sun came out today! We're born again, there's new grass on the field. A roundin' third and headin' for home it's a brown-eyed handsome man. Put me in, Coach - I'm ready to play, today." A funeral service will be held on Wednesday July 14, 2021 at 12:00 noon at the Belton-Stroup Funeral Home, 422 E. Dayton-Yellow Springs Rd., Fairborn. The family will receive friends from 11:00 A.M. until the time of service. The family requests in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Fairborn Little League, PO BOX 255, Fairborn, OH 45324.