Jack D. Smittle, 93, formerly of Ada and Westerville, Ohio, died October 14, 2024, at Provision Living at Findlay, from the progression of prolymphocytic leukemia.
Jack was born July 13, 1931, in Portsmouth, Ohio, to Mary D. (Podwell) and George D. Smittle. On August 27, 1955, he married Thelma Maxine (Wells) Smittle and she predeceased him on Oct. 2, 2024.
Jack is survived by a son, David (Kim) of Ada, brother, Dr. William D. (Linda) Smittle of Jefferson City, MO, brother-in-law, Carl “Sonny” (Carol) Wells of Grove City, and sisters-in-law, Becky (Frank) Martino of St. Clairsville, Glenna Wells of Cadiz and Ruth Wells of Jewett; grandchildren, Doug Smittle (Anthony Lucano) of North Hollywood, CA, Ellen Smittle (Nelson Diaz) of Queens, NY, and Evan Smittle (Morgan Chilton) of Westlake. Cousins, Dr. John Niederhuber (Kathy McBrien) of Potomac, MD, Jim (Mary Ann) Niederhuber of Marion, nieces, Michelle (Scott) Jansen of Jefferson City, Deborah (Scott) Kovaks of St. Louis, Dianne Wells of Jewett, Janice (David) Lennox of Gahanna, Pam (Rick) Howell of Scio, and, nephews, Brian Smittle of Austin, TX, Steve (Debbie) Wells of Cadiz, Paul (Pat) Wells of New Philadelphia, and Jim Birney of Pataskala.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, sisters-in-law, Linda Stevenson Smittle, Joan Wells and Irma (Bob) Stewart, brothers-in-law, Charles Wells and Ross Wells, nieces, Patty Birney, Kathy Fry, Stacey Vargo and nephew, Jeff Wells.
Jack was a devoted husband, father and friend to many. He graduated from Steubenville “Big Red” High School in 1949 and obtained the Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy degree from Ohio Northern University in 1953. His career included pharmacy manager at Ohio Valley Hospital, owner of Smittle’s Pharmacy in Westerville from 1959-1981, and the Assistant to the Executive Director and Director of the Internship Program for the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy until his retirement in 1994.
He was a member of Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity, Church of the Messiah, chaired the Westerville Christmas parade committee for several years and a 1977 Westerville South Marching Band uniform replacement campaign. As a member of the Westerville Restoration Review Board in the 1970s, he was instrumental in the revitalization and historical significance of the core business district and in coining the promotion, “Uptown Westerville, A Place for People.”
Jack and Maxine were members of several national and statewide MG sports car clubs. He founded the Central Ohio MG-T Owners, now known as Central Ohio MG Owners (COMGO). MGs were his passion and pride--from a post-retirement spare parts business, Old Farts Auto Parts, to the 2005-11 design and build project of a 1946 MG TC special body car essentially from scratch which he called the S-Type. The car was invited to several prestigious Concours d’Elegance shows at Glenmore, Stan Hywet, Boca Raton, Amelia Island, Dayton and Lake George, NY. He loved participating in events with “the Special” such as Ohio Chapter Gatherings of the Faithful, multi-state GOF Centrals, the Rallye to Reno, car club trips and the annual Put-in-Bay Vintage Sports Car Races and Reunion. He judged Mid-Ohio vintage sports car shows and was considered an expert in MG history, originality and memorabilia. While he loved the cars, he enjoyed interacting with fellow enthusiasts even more.
Jack was a Christian man, involved in the Church and volunteered for The Open Shelter in Columbus. As a final act of generosity, he chose to donate his body to The Ohio State University College of Medicine to assist in furthering scientific and medical research.
Visitation will be held at 11:00 with a 1:00 celebration of life service on Monday, October 21, 2024, at Church of the Messiah, 51 N. State St., Westerville. A light lunch and time of fellowship will follow at the church.
The family kindly requests memorial contributions instead of sending flowers. Please consider: The James Area of Greatest Need Fund/31350 at The Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, c/o The Ohio State University Foundation, 14 E. 15th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43201, online at giveto.osu.edu, or, The Open Shelter, 1037 Parsons Ave., Columbus, OH 43206, online at TheOpenShelter.org/donate/.
Arrangements are being handled by Moreland Funeral Home, Westerville; 614-882-2197.
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