James R. "J.R." Smith

Mr. James R. "J.R." Smith, 90, of Hopwood, PA, passed away on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at Mt. Macrina Manor.
He was born in Monessen, PA on March 2, 1935, to the late James and Anna Spirko Smith.
J.R. was raised in the Belle Veron area, and graduated from Bellmar High School, class of 1953.
He has retired from the U.S. Navy as a Cryptologic Technician (Administration) First Class (CTA1). He has served at various duty stations around the world (Taiwan, Washington D.C., Bremerhaven, Germany, Fort Meade, MD, Pearl Harbor, HI, and Yokohama and Yokosuka, Japan) with the Naval Security Group, National Security Agency, and other Department of Defense Agencies. Most of these duties were interactive with the Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps. J.R. transferred to the Fleet Reserve in 1973, after 20 years of service.
J.R. worked for Manos Theaters in Uniontown as a projectionist and manager of the Moonlight Drive-in Theater. He also did sales and deliveries for BJ Mundals in Uniontown and retired from the United Parcel Service in Smithton.
He was very active with various veteran's concerns. He was a life member of four veteran organizations, the Fleet Reserve Association(FRA), the Naval Enlisted Reserve Association, American Veterans (AMVETS) Post 103, American Legion Post 301, and a member of the Navy Club of USA (USS Pittsburgh 720). J.R. was a past regional president for the Northeast Region of the FRA. He was an active member of the Fayette County United Veterans Association, the Uniontown United Veterans Association, District 24, Fayette County American Legion committees, and the American Legion Western Section Public Relations.
J.R. is survived by his wife of 68 years, Louise Smith of Hopwood; three children, Karen Bertovich and husband Eric of Smithfield, Sharon Metzger of Virginia, and James "Randy" Smith and husband Joey Matos of Virginia; three grandchildren, Erica Usher and husband Bryan of Smithfield, Joshua Bertovich and wife Michelle of Hopwood, and Kevin Metzger and wife Sydney of Virginia; five great grandchildren, Isabelle, Mason, and Riley Usher, Ari Bertovich, and Cillian Metzger; two sisters, Elizabeth Bartollozzi and husband Frank of Charleroi and Patricia Haywood of Donora; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a son-in-law, Scott Metzger, and three siblings: William Smith, David Smith, and Mary Jane Lessman.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Stephen R. Haky Funeral Home, 603 N. Gallatin Ave. Ext., Uniontown, PA 15401.
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