John Stephen Smella, 79, of Galion passed away Sunday, August 1, 2021, after a brief battle with cancer.
Born July 26, 1942, in Galion, he was the son of the late Stephen J. and Ruth L. (Keckler) Smella. He is survived by the love of his life, Joan (Green) Smella, whom he married on October 19, 1968.
He attended Galion City Schools through the tenth grade before his family moved to Knox County, where he graduated from Howard High School. He completed his education by earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration at The Ohio State University.
John volunteered for service in the Army and earned the rank of E-5 just 18 months after enlistment. After a tour in Korea, he served on the planning staff of Desert Strike, then the largest United States military training exercise since World War II.
He began a career in the emerging computer field in the late 1960s and became a programmer/systems analyst with Westinghouse in Mansfield. He later served as the project manager overseeing Westinghouse Learning Corporation’s government contract for the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant program in Iowa City, Iowa. For eight years he was Data Processing Manager at the former Peabody Galion. John finished his career at Motorists Mutual Insurance Company in Columbus, retiring in 2008.
John was a charter member of the North Central Ohio Chapter of the American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS). He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and served numerous terms as president of its council, including at the time of his passing. He served on the board of the Galion/Polk Township United Way and was a past chairman. He was a member of American Legion Scarbrough Post 243 in Galion and was a Galion Booster Club director. John enjoyed coaching youth sports and his teams won championships in baseball and football. He was an avid reader and passionate about politics and history.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by children Darrin Smella of Marysville and Kristy (Adam) Miller of Gaithersburg, Md.; grandchildren Lauren and Claire Miller; siblings Kathryn (Alan) Resor, Fred Smella, and Janie Hirst; sister-in-law, Janet (Ray) Baldwin and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Monday, August 9, 2021, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 291 North Union Street, Galion, Ohio 44833, where services will be held at 12:00 p.m. Monday, August 9 with Pastor Richard Genzman officiating. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Galion.
Full military honors will be conducted by the United States Army and the Galion Crestline Veterans Military Funeral Detail.
Memorial contributions may be made to Avita Hospice or Trinity Lutheran Church in care of the funeral home. Richardson Davis Chapel of Snyder Funeral Homes in Galion is honored to serve the family of John Smella, and condolences may be made to them at www.SnyderFuneralHomes.com.