Sgt. James L. Smith

Sergeant James Lewis Smith, 29, of New Philadelphia, died Monday, April 18, 2011 while serving on active duty in the United States Army at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky.A son of James C. Smith of New Philadelphia and Carol J. Smith of Hilliard, Ohio, James was born May 14, 1981 at Twin City Hospital in Dennison, Ohio.James graduated from Indian Valley High School in 2000. While in high school, he was a member of the wrestling team and during his senior year he qualified for the State Tournament. During his youth, James was a member of the Tuscarawas County Little League team that had an undefeated season of 21-0 and was also a member of 4-H and Boy Scouts.Taking an interest in the military at a young age, James enlisted in the Ohio Army National Guard under the Split Option Program as a junior in High School. He attended Basic Training at Ft Knox, KY between his junior and senior year of High School. After graduation, he completed his Advanced Individual Training at Ft Lee, VA.In 2005, James transferred from the National Guard into the active duty Army and was stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas with the 62nd Quartermaster Company. Two years later, on December 24, 2007, he was deployed to Camp Stryker, Iraq and would return stateside to Ft. Hood, TX on March 18, 2009. A little over a year later, James left Ft. Hood for another tour of duty at Camp Humphries, South Korea with the 348th Quartermaster Company. Upon his return, James was stationed at Ft. Campbell, KY with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. James was very proud of his service to his country and while stationed at Ft. Hood, he joined the color guard and had the honor of presenting the colors at the 2010 NBA All Star Game at Dallas, Texas. James was also involved with the Combative Team, where he achieved Level II Combative training. As exciting as the military was to James, a very sad time during his service came as he was completing NCO training at Ft. Hood when the Ft. Hood Massacre took place.He was an avid sports fan and enjoyed playing a wide variety of sports. When not playing sports, he could be found rooting on his favorite Ohio Sports Teams. James also had a passion for line dancing and appeared on many regional television programs and received many awards.In addition to his parents, James is survived by his loving wife, the former Rachel Reidenbach, whom he married on June 27, 2009 and his two year old daughter, Hannah Elizabeth Smith. James and Rachel were also expecting their second child, Peyton Nicole Smith, in September 2011.James is also survived by his sisters, Lori (Dave) Bottoms of Kansas City, Missouri and Mary (Dan) McCaslin of Hilliard, Ohio; three nieces, Sarah and Sheila McCaslin and Rebekah Bottoms and a nephew, Sean McCaslin and many aunts, uncles and cousins,Completing the Family is his father-in-law, Dale Reidenbach, mother-in-law, Teri Reidenbach and brother-in-law, J.R. Reidenbach of New Philadelphia, his sister-in-law, Toni Reidenbach of Columbus, very close friends whom he considered Family, Dale and Joyce Keffer, also one of his closest friends, David Keffer and many other friends he formed relationships throughout many different areas of his life.He was preceded in death by his grandparents, James and Rita Smith and Mabel and William Hutson.The arrival of Sergeant Smith and welcome home ceremony will take place on Friday, April 22, 2011 with an estimated time of arrival of 8:00 p.m. at Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia. The motorcade will travel U.S. 250 West, exiting at the 416 exit. It will then turn right (north) on Broadway, turning right (east) on Fair Avenue, then right (south) on Second Street NE.The Family will then receive friends on Monday, April 25, 2011 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia. Funeral services with full military honors will take place on Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. in Broadway United Methodist Church at New Philadelphia with Rev. Bill Sowers officiating. Burial will follow in Ridgecrest Memory Gardens at Dover. Following the committal service, a luncheon will be held in the fellowship hall of Broadway United Methodist Church.Those wishing to do so may send the Family a personal condolence and view an online memorial by visiting the funeral home website.The Family requests that contributions be made to the USO, P.O. Box 96322, Washington D.C. 20090.