Pencial C. Smith, known by friends and family as “Smitty,” of Heaton Court, 5 Pine St., Stockbridge, Mass., passed away quietly in the loving arms of his wife at Fairview Commons Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Great Barrington at the age of 86 on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 at approximately 10 a.m.
Born to the late Pencial and Jeannie Smith in Orange, N.J., on June 30, 1930, he attended Orange Vocational High School. In time, he met his beautiful wife Ruth Collins and moved to the Berkshires and married her at the Great Barrington Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1985, eventually making their home at Heaton Court in Stockbridge.
Smitty was employed at Friendly’s, Oak-n-Spruce Resort and Lee Prime Outlets, where he met and made many friends and became well known for his smile, humor and being a handyman, willing to do whatever it took to make his wife smile and be proud of him. Primarily, being an active member of the Lee Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, at 945 Pleasant St. (Rte. 102) Lee, MA 01238, he was known for his zealous ministry of spreading the Good News of God’s Kingdom and the benefits that humans would enjoy here on earth. It was this very message, along with his hope to be resurrected back to life here on the earth that kept Smitty smiling and positive, though battling lung cancer. Many will remember Smitty for being a man of many talents, including building lighting fixtures out of popsicle sticks, but it was that little twinkle in his eye along with his smile as he told you a little quip or joke that endeared him to you. His humor and determination was something that made him special and he will be sorely missed.
Smitty was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by; his wife, Ruth C. Smith, three sons; Russell, Winston and Ellis, three sisters; Alice Muldrow, Carrie Adams and Evelyn Smith, one sister-in-law Barbara and her husband Charles, nine grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren, along with a host of nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service was performed on Saturday, January 14, 2017 at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Lee, and there will be a private burial at some future time.
FINNERTY & STEVENS FUNERAL HOME in Great Barrington is handling the arrangements. Condolences and/or donations may be forwarded to his wife at the following address c/o Ruth C. Smith, P.O. Box 419, Stockbridge, MA 01262
