Frederick L. "Ted" Smeltzer, 86, of Nashport, Ohio was called to be home with our Lord Jesus Christ Thursday evening, October 15, 2015.
Born August 26, 1929 in New Lexington Ohio, he was a son of the late Ambrose and Mary (Metzger) Smeltzer and was a 1946 graduate of New Lexington High School. He served his country in the U. S. Army in Germany during the Korean conflict. At age 17, he began working in the family insurance business in New Lexington. After completion of his military service he rejoined the family business until 1962, at which time he founded the Smeltzer Insurance Agency in Frazeysburg, Ohio, where he continued to work until his failing health forced him to retire in 2014. Ted was an active member of St. Mary's Catholic Church at the Mattingly Settlement on St. Mary's Road in Nashport. He was also a life-time member and past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus and a longtime member and past president of the Frazeysburg Lions Club. He was a recipient of the Lions Melvin Jones Fellowship Award for exemplary service to his club.
Ted was joined in marriage to his loving wife of 61 years, Mary Lou (Mattingly) Smeltzer on May 1, 1954, who survives. Also surviving is his very close family, his four sons, Robert (Ann) Smeltzer, Lawrence (Dawn) Smeltzer, Patrick Smeltzer, and Stephen (Vicky) Smeltzer; his two daughters, Cynthia (Stephen) Echelberry and Mary Joan (John) Factor; sixteen grandchildren; fifteen great grandchildren; a brother Richard (Tillie) Smeltzer of Wellston, Ohio; a sister Pauline Richards of New Lexington and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by five brothers, Charles, Donald, James, John, and Joseph Smeltzer and two sisters, Ruth Gordon and Helen Moyer.
Calling hours will be 5pm to 8pm Sunday, October 18, 2015 at the Frazeysburg Chapel of Vensil & Chute Funeral Home, 110 West Third Street. Frazeysburg Lions Club will conduct the Lion's memorial service at 8pm, following calling hours. At 8:30pm Christian Wake services will be conducted.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30am Monday, October 19 at St. Mary's Catholic Church at the Mattingly Settlement on St. Mary's Road, Nashport with the Reverend Father Donald Franks as celebrant. Burial will be in Mattingly Settlement Cemetery.
Ted loved the most recent project of his Church, to resurrect the Good Samaritan Chapel at Saint Mary's. This project is a result of the generosity of the Sisters of the old Good Samaritan Hospital who donated the statues, pews, stained glass windows, Crucifix and many other items from the Good Samaritan Chapel, to be used in this beautiful endeavor. Therefore the family asks that memorial contributions be made to help this project: St. Mary's Building Fund, Post Office Box 107, Dresden, Ohio 43821.