Obituary of Pierce Rodman Smith

Pierce R. Smith,84, of Wilkes-Barre, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 28, 2016 at Golden Living Center - Summit, Wilkes-Barre. Born in Wilkes-Barre on February 29 1932, he was a son of the late Roy and Cecelia (Yost) Smith . He grew up in Fox Hill where he attended local schools in Plains Township and was a graduate of the Plains Memorial High School, class of 1949. After graduation Pierce served in the United States Army. He attained the rank of Specialist Fourth Class and worked in small arms repair. After several years of serving his country he was honorably discharged. Pierce worked in the local shoe industry for fifty plus years working in numerous shoe factories in the area until 1980 when he opened his own manufacturing business Old Forge Sewing and later renamed P & R Sewing after his son Robert joined him in the business. He was a long time member of the Pennsylvania Superintendents’ & Foremen’s Association of the Shoe Industry. Pierce was an avid outdoorsman who loved to hunt and fish. He had a keen interest in horse racing and also owned race horses at Pocono downs. But above all his greatest love was just spending time with his family and friends. He was preceded in death by his brothers George, Roy Jr. and John. He is survived by his daughters Patricia Smith, Duryea; Lori Canter and husband Robert, Upper Marlboro, MD; son Robert and his wife Susan, Jenkins Township; grandchildren Samantha Smith, Ashley Canter, and Nathan Smith; sister Dolores Bear, Hunlock Creek; and several nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the staff of the Summit Nursing Center for their excellent care and understanding during his stay with them. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, October 1, 2016 at 11:00am from the Yanaitis Funeral Home Inc. 55 Stark Street, Plains, with Rev. Roger Noss, Pastor of the First United Methodist Church, West Nanticoke, will be officiating services. Interment will be held in Memorial Shrine Burial Park, Wyoming, with military honors. Friends and family may call at the funeral home on Saturday morning from 9:00am till time of service. To send a condolence to the family or for directions to services, please visit www.yanaitisfuneralhome.com.