Smith

David Allen Smith, 65, of Harrisville, passed away Sunday evening, Sept. 14, 2025, at his home surrounded by his loving family.

David was born Thursday, Dec. 3, 1959, in Butler, to William F. Smith and Nora Mae Dunlap-Smith.

David graduated from Slippery Rock High School in 1978 and Grove City College in 1982, with a Bachelor of Science in metallurgical engineering.

David married Terry Ann Kelly on Saturday, Oct. 2, 1982. Terry and David made their home in Ohio, settling in Canton, for 38 years. David cherished his time in Ohio and the good friends he made there. David was employed at the Timken Company in May of 1982. He held the positions of application engineer, process engineer, area manager of thermal treat and area manager of production metallurgical testing and certification of Timken products.

In 1992, David decided to spread his entrepreneurial wings and took a job as vice president of operations with Solmet. He took great pride in working with some wonderful people in his time at Solmet and growing the business in forging, machining, testing and serving new customers with new opportunities.

In early 2006, David decided to go back to TimkenSteel and held front line management roles in ingot making, the melt/refine shop and was the start up manager for the new 200-million-dollar state-of-the art jumbo vertical caster. He finished his career as a senior metallurgical service specialist where he traveled and helped customers with their technical issues dealing with TimkenSteel’s wide variety of products.

David treasured his career and was grateful for the many associates he worked with. David always held the belief that “employees will work to the level of the expectations you provide, if you expect little, you’ll likely get it from many of your folks. There are people that go above and beyond expectations and these are the ones that make you look really good.”

David retired in March of 2020. He and Terry then moved to Harrisville, building a beautiful home in the country surrounded by nature and gracious neighbors. While in Ohio, David served on the parish council of St. Louis Parish in Louisville. He served 14 years in the Rotary Club of Canton where he was a Paul Harris Fellow. He served on the board of directors. He was chairman of the physically and mentally challenged Scout troops (boys and girls) for 13 years. This was serving inner city youth. David took great pride in his service. He loved those children.

David was the chairman of the “Save the Historic Barn Committee” which is a century old barn at the entrance to Slippery Rock Area High School. This is still a work in progress.

David was an accomplished woodworker. He was also an avid outdoorsman. He loved fishing, whether casting his line in the waters of Canada, Lake Erie or his neighbors’ pond. Time spent fishing was never wasted. David had a special group of friends that went spring trout fishing every year. David enjoyed hunting and time with family and friends at camp. Many tall tales were told around the campfire in the evenings. David enjoyed gardening. His last great project was giant pumpkins. Mixed reviews came in.

David was an avid Pittsburgh sports fan. He could often be seen with family and friends in the stands of a Penguins, Pirates or Steelers game.

David cherished and fiercely loved his family and friends. Two of the brightest lights in his life were his grandsons, Henry and Tristan.

Members of David’s family who will cherish his memory are his wife, Terry; his son, Eric D. Smith of Newbury, Ohio; daughter, Amber N. (Kiel) Nissel, of St. Marys; his grandsons, Henry W. Smith and Tristan T. Nissel; his brother, Harold B. (Karen) Smith, of Grove City; his sister, Penny L. (Paul) Lawrence, of Mercer; several precious nieces and nephews; and many great-nieces and great-nephews, who lovingly referred to David as Uncle Buddy.

SMITH — A Mass of Christian burial for David Allen Smith, who died Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, 232 Boyers Road, Harrisville. The Mass will be celebrated by Father Adam Verona.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hyland Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10306, or the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741.

Arrangements are by SMITH FUNERAL HOME, Slippery Rock.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.