Joseph B. Smith, 65 yrs. of age, of Bucyrus died peacefully Sunday at home following a four month battle with cancer. Joe was born in Springfield, OH February 24, 1944 to the late Joseph Smith and Fernelle Evelyn (Peck) Graham. He was married March 25, 2000 to Joyce (Orewiler) Smith who survives. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by step father Joe Graham and father in law Paul Garvin.

Also surviving are 3 daughters; Laurie (Logan) Cooper, Bucyrus; Dawn (Jim) Henson, Mansfield; Holly (Chad) Starner, Bucyrus; 1 son Dustin Smith of Bloomville; grandchildren Michael Meade, Josh and Brandon Henson, and Nicholas Starner; brother Dale (Barb) Smith of Chatfield; sister Connie (Gene) Puffenbaugh, Bucyrus; mother in law Maxine Garvin, Bucyrus and brother in law Jim Orewiler of Bucyrus.

Joe was a Vietnam Veteran from 1966 until 1968 and was awarded the Purple War Heart and Air Medal. Following the service he worked at Sears from 1968 until 1972 doing T.V. Repair. Prior to entering the service, Joe worked at PPG in Crestline. He started with United Telephone in 1972, retiring after 30 years in 2002 from Sprint. Following retirement he continued to do telephone repair until the time of his illness. Joe moved to Bucyrus from Springfield in 1958 and graduated from Bucyrus High School in 1962. He attended Gospel Baptist Church and was a member of the American Legion Post 181, Bucyrus Moose Lodge, and the Amvets. Joe loved spending time with his family and friends, gardening, and making homemade wine. He always enjoyed making people laugh with a joke.

Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday at 11:00 am in the Munz-Pirnstill Funeral Home with Rev. Monte Trammel and Rev. Bradley Smith officiating, burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday where the family will recieve friends from 2-4 and 6-8 pm. The family suggests memorials be made to Cystic Fibrosis, Relay for Life, or the donors choice. Online expressions of sympathy can be left at munzpirnstill.com

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