Leonard Smith

Leonard Parl "Bub" Smith, known to many as "Pappy," passed away at his residence (Love Road in Summerville, PA) on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. He was 84 years old and was diagnosed with cancer last year. 

Born in Brookville on February 14, 1940, he was the son of the late Jacob and Frances McDowell Smith.

 
After graduating Clarion-Limestone High School in 1958, Leonard joined the U.S. Navy. From 1959 to 1963, he was aboard the USS Saratoga (CVA-60), completing Mediterranean (Italy, Spain, and Greece) and Middle Eastern (Lebanon, Turkiye) tours. In 1959, he married Laverne Campbell Smith. Together, they had two children: Marilee Wolfe and Ron "Reb" Smith. 

Leonard knew that he wanted to be a farmer from a very early age. When he returned to Pennsylvania after his military service, he purchased his childhood homestead, where he farmed for more than sixty years. 

Following his wife Laverne's passing, Leonard later married (Rose) Marie Beichner Smith in 2000, and gained three step-children: Robert Beichner, Linda Hovis, and Dawn Beichner-Thomas. In addition to his life-long work on his farm, he owned and operated an auto garage and worked as a welder at Pullman Standard (Butler, PA) and eventually retired in the late 1990s from the maintenance department at Beverage Air (Brookville, PA).

Leonard took pride in farming-cultivating crops and raising cattle-which he continued to do until recent months. He loved spending time with his family and passed his farming and mechanic knowledge on to his children, grandchildren, and great grandson.

Leonard is survived by his brother, George Smith & wife Carla Smith, son, Ron "Reb" Smith & fiancée Barb Blatt, step-daughters, Linda Hovis, and Dawn Beichner-Thomas & husband Andrew Thomas, niece, Angie Smith & her partner Brian Riddle, grandchildren Emileigh Anderson & husband Brandon Anderson, Dana Smith & fiancée Sylvia George, Clay Burford & wife Kayla Burford, step-grandchildren Gina Myers, Stephanie Beichner, James Leadbetter & wife Heather Leadbetter, and Max Tadros, as well as great grandchildren, Laina Colville & fiancée Corey Kurtz, Leah Colville, Silas Burford, and step-great grandchildren, Aleen Leadbetter, and Madeline Leadbetter.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wives Lavern Campbell Smith and (Rose) Marie Beichner Smith, daughter Marilee Wolfe, step-son, Robert Beichner, daughter-in-law, Sally Smith, and great granddaughters, Paisley Ann Burford, and Brynlee Ann Burford.

There will be no visitation and services will be private. The family is grateful to the staff at the Clarion Forest Visiting Nurse Association. Memorial donations may be made to the Clarion Forest VNA (271 Perkins Road, Clarion, PA 16214, phone 814-297-8400). For more information, visit https://civi.cfvna.org/

Friends and family may leave online condolences, light a memorial candle, share a memory and obtain additional information by visiting www.furlongfuneralhome.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Leonard Smith, please visit our floral store.