Ronald Lee Smith

Ronald “Ron” Lee Smith, of Dover, a well known surveyor for 39 years and owner of Ron Smith Surveying passed away, Sunday, February 26, 2006, from a courageous 15 month battle with cancer.Born at Deersville, Ohio, he was the son of the late Dwight “Red” Smith and Esther P. Smith. He was a graduate of Freeport High School and a veteran of the United States Army serving with Co. C, 34th Armor Division from the Cadiz area.Ron lived and loved his life fully. During the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s he was known on the field trial circuit for his coon dogs, traveling the United States with his mom and dad, winning just about every race that was run, ending up in 1978-1979 with the top dogs in the United States, Tip and Tuck.He was an avid deer hunter, always looking for the big bucks. In 1979 he bagged one, a 13 point buck, which was registered in “The Ohio Buck.”He loved to go to Wheeling, to play “the dogs” and Vegas, to play “the slots and tables” with his good buddy, Al Margo, and he never came home a loser. For 18 years he and his wife vacationed with their good friends, Tom and Denise Huebner and every trip was always an adventure.Ron’s biggest love was golfing. Over the years he often was kidded about it; because when he started playing he couldn’t figure out why anyone would want to play such a silly game. That silly game became his passion. He was very proud of his three holes in one. When not playing in leagues at Green Valley, Oak Shadows, and Willandale, he was packing his bags for Myrtle Beach and Naples, Fl. with his good buddies Harold Shade, Danny Kohler, Jim Hawk, Ray Smith (better known as the Smith Bros.) and many others. He was a former member of the Union Country Club, and he and Ray won the member-guest tournament in 1999.When not golfing in leagues he would join up with his good friends, Jeff Mathias and Bill Schwartz for charitable golfing events or just taking off for a day of fellowship.For 34 years he was an assistant county engineer with the Tuscarawas county road and bridge department. In 1967, when he decided to become a surveyor, he took a correspondence course while working and passed the test on his first try. He worked under three county engineers (Chuck Young, the late Ed Gasser and Joe Bachman) before his retirement in 1990. Following his retirement from the county he went in to business as a professional surveyor. He had high regards for his employee’s and was regarded highly by his clientele and ran a very successful business. Ron was a baptized member of the Uhrichsville Christian Fellowship Church and an Ohio State Buckeye fan. He will be greatly missed by his mother, who he could never beat playing gin rummy and his loving wife, Christina (Gowins) Smith, his best friend for 34 years, nine and a half as his wife.He is also survived by a brother, Dick Smith, of Cadiz; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Sherry and Dean Fisher, of Uhrichsville; aunts, Elda Taylor, of Cadiz, Sally (Ray) Cottrell, of Uhrichsville (whose pies he dearly loved) and Joyce Johnson, of Straitsville, O.; an uncle, Harold Johnson, of Cambridge, O.; many nieces, nephews and cousins, and his god-child, Kristen Waltz.Deceased are his father; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Norma and Bill Gowins; numerous aunts and uncles; his first wife, Norma Jean and his beagle Shorty. Visitation will be held in the Geib Funeral Center, 5600 N. Wooster Ave., at Dover, Tuesday, February 28, 2006 (tonight) from 4:00 p.m. till 8:00 p.m. with a “Pass the Light” candlelighting at 8:00 p.m. Services will be Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. in the Geib Funeral Center with Pastors Tom Klaserner and Jim McDonald officiating. A reception will be held at Auman Timbers Golf Club following the service.The family suggests memorial contributions be made to: the Uhrichsville Christian Fellowship memorial fund, PO box 8, Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683. or Hospice of Tuscarawas Co., 201 W. Third St. Dover, OH 44622