Regis Martin Smith
Regis Martin Smith, 79, passed away peacefully Wednesday, June 9, 2021.
He was born October 2, 1941, to Mary Martinek Smith and Daniel M Smith (both deceased) of McDonald. He had one brother, Terry L Smith, of Bethel Park.
Regis graduated from McDonald High School in 1959. He played half back on McDonald’s football team and outside guard on the basketball team. This team played in the 1959 Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) Class B Playoffs and unfortunately lost to Avonworth in an effort to reach the Pennsylvania State Title.
Regis’ father worked for the Pittsburgh Coal Co. that offered an engineering scholarship to the children of its employees. Regis applied for the scholarship and was awarded a full scholarship to West Virginia University and attended for 2-1/2 years.
He left West Virginia University and attended West Liberty College in West Virginia and California State Teachers College in California, Pa., until he was drafted by the U.S. Government. When drafted, he applied to the Army’s Warrant Officer Flight School, Dothan, Ala., and was accepted for helicopter pilot training. After completion of flight school, he was assigned to Wertheim Germany Army Base where he met and married in 1967 his wife, Joan Cailor of Youngstown, Ohio. After his time in Wertheim, he was assigned to Vietnam, where he trained and flew Huey and Chinook Army helicopters until his return to Youngstown.
In Youngstown, he started to work for an insurance company, continued his education at night school and earned his degree at Youngstown State University. Regis, Joan and their children, Kelly and Todd, moved to Hudson, Ohio, and he started and managed the Carriage Insurance Agency until his retirement.
He is survived by his wife Joan, daughter Kelly MacIntyre (Jeff MacIntyre), son Todd Smith (Laura Yeager Smith); grandchildren Cailor and Cameron MacIntyre, Mekenzie and Paige Smith; and stepgrandchildren Sofia and Ben Yeager.