Collis Martin Smeal, 95, of Philipsburg and formerly of West Decatur died Friday at Windy Hill Village.
Born April 9, 1916 in Decatur Township, he was the son of the late Earl and Vergie (Woods) Smeal. Mr. Smeal was a member of the Ashland Wesleyan Church, Osceola Mills, and the LaSalle Lodge #1049, Free and Accepted Masons. He was a member of the Scottish Rite Chapter, Council and Consistory in the Valley of Altoona and of the Jaffa Shrine, Altoona. He attended Eagle Eye School and worked as a farmer during the depression.
In addition to farm work, Mr. Smeal later worked at Harbison Walker as well as in the clay mines. He then moved to Niagara Falls, N.Y., where he worked for Bell Aircraft and attended night classes at Trott Vocational School, taking classes in automobile mechanics and welding. He was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1945 and served until his discharge in 1946. Afterward, he returned to Niagara Falls and worked as a process control operator for the E.I. DuPont Corp. for 26 years, retiring in 1972.
He married the former Mildred Woods Kanouff Oct. 29, 1934 in Clearfield. She survives him in Philipsburg.
Also surviving are two sons, Marvin E. Smeal and his wife, Lillian of Vicksburg, MI and Collis Duane Smeal and his wife, Mary of Youngstown, NY; one sister, Evelyn McClarren and her husband, Lloyd of West Decatur; five grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; five great-great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Smeal was preceded in death by one sister, Mabel Fleck; a foster-brother, Martin “Mick” Mease; and a grandson, Mark Balentine.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Beezer-Heath Funeral Home, 719 East Spruce St., Philipsburg, with the Rev. Joseph and the Rev. Arlene Rohrbacker officiating. Interment will be at the Reidy Cemetery, Wallaceton.
Friends will be received from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to Windy Hill Village, 100 Dogwood Dr., Philipsburg, PA 16866. Online condolences may be sent to beezer-heathfuneralhome.com.
