WOOSTER – The Smailes family is sad to announce that Thomas A. Tom Smailes, 89, of Wooster passed away on Friday, April 30 at the Akron General Hospital as the result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
Tom was born July 4, 1931 in Coshocton, the son of Roy and Alice (Shank) Smailes. He married Lysbeth Libby Smailes in 1954, who preceded him in death in 2017 and with whom he is now reunited.
Tom was raised in Coshocton and was a 1949 graduate of Coshocton High School. He later attended Ohio Northern University, earning a degree in pharmacy in 1953, which continued to be his profession. Many in Wooster knew him as a pharmacist at Maurer’s Drug Store, where he worked for many years. He also proudly served his country during the Korean War.
Tom was a loving husband to Libby, a wonderful and supportive father to his children, and a proud grandfather and great-grandfather. He is survived by his children, Catherine Anne Dunaway (Michael Dunaway) of Wooster, David Alan Smailes of Southborough, Mass., Suzanne Allyn Smailes (Sheila Darrow) of Yellow Springs and Robert Andrew Smailes (Kazuko Smailes) of Kobe, Japan; granddaughters, Shauna (Jeremy) Cornwell, Marisa Dunaway and Kokoro Smailes; great-grandsons Cameron and Milo Cornwell; a sister, Anne Bisdorf (Gordon Bisdorf), a brother, James Smailes (Sheri Smailes), and a special family member, Ie Lin Leong of Garden Grove, California.
Tom loved Wooster and the many friends he made here. He enjoyed his colleagues at Maurer’s Pharmacy and the people he met there as part of his profession. He was an active member of the Wooster United Methodist Church and was close to many in the congregation. Tom was proud to be an alumnae of Ohio Northern, and often took part in the white coat investiture of new pharmacy school graduates there. He remained close to his Kappa Psi fraternity brothers from those years throughout his life.
Tom was a member of the Kiwanis’s Club for many years, and more recently enjoyed participating in the Wayne Investment Stock Club.
Tom enjoyed reading about history and current events, was proud of the vegetables and plants he grew in his garden, and delighted in his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was always happy to spend an afternoon fishing, working his garden and reading his favorite author, Mark Twain (one of his favorite quotes from Twain appears at the end of this notice).
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, July 17, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at the Wooster United Methodist Church.
McIntire, Bradham & Sleek Funeral Home, 216 E. Larwill St., Wooster is assisting the family.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Wooster United Methodist Church, Ohio Northern University, or a charity of your choice in his memory.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.mcintirebradhamsleek.com
Let us endeavor to live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry.
Memorial Contributions
Wooster United Methodist Church, 243 N. Market St., Wooster, OH 44691 or Ohio Northern University, 525 S. Main St., Ada, OH 45810 or to a charity of donor’s choice in his memory
Service
Memorial service on Saturday, July 17, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at Wooster United Methodist Church
Visitation
No Calling hours
My sincere condolences to the family of Tom. He was a wonderfully kind person who always made you feel special. He will be so missed in our community.
Tom was an original and founding member of Wayne Investment Club. He served as the club’s original treasurer and actively participated at every meeting. Tom was a good man and gave good advice when asked. He was friendly and fun to be with. Tom will be missed and never forgotten.
My deepest sympathy to you and your entire family.
Heartbreaking.
I didn’t have the pleasure of knowing Tom for a lifetime, but I had the pleasure of knowing him for the last few years when we would come back home to Wooster from Kansas.
We visited while out working in our yards and I heard so many great stories about his wife and family,how proud he was of all his kids and how much each one of them meant to him. They were his legacy. I’m going to miss him like crazy when my husband and I head back to Ohio. I’m going to miss hearing about all the grandkids,the birthdays they celebrated together. He always had such a big smile on his face when he spoke of them.
Tom was a gentleman, quick witted with an incredible politeness and personality! The world lost a little brightness when he left, but heaven has gained a brighter star in the sky.
May God help you find peace during this difficult time.
I am deeply saddened to hear of Tom’s passing. I would like to extend my deepest condolences to all of the Smailes family. It was a pleasure working with Tom at Maurer’s. 30 plus years of fun and laughter. My memories are many. My best memory of Tom, teaching me how to make progesterone suppositories. He took great pride in making those life savers for women. He loved his Bishop fried bologna sandwiches and his piece of pie. He always mentioned he was writing memoirs of his experiences as a pharmacist, I hope he did. I will miss him dearly. Sympathy and prayers to all of you.
My thoughts and. prayers are with you all from remembering Tom at our Christian Singles group after so many of us had lost our spouses to way back when our kids were in high school. Having just lost our son,Bob, I share your grief in so many ways. Sincere sympathy, Shirley
Thinking of you. Glad to know Mr. Smailes, always a good Wooster neighbor.
Tom taught me everything about being a pharmacist ! I loved him and all the Ohio northern guys . I was the only girl and the only Ohio state pharmacist at Maurers . I learned how to care for people from these wonderful guys. Thank you Tom, Fred , Andy and mr Maurer , I am the pharmacist I am today because of these wonderful Ohio northern guys ! Love my Ohio pharmacist family from Virginia Beach Virginia!
Deepest sympathy to you . I had the pleasure of working with Tom at Maurer Pharmacy years ago . We had the opportunity to become life long friends to him & Libby . So very sorry to hear of his passing
Sending warm thoughts and prayers to Cathy, David, Suzanne and Rob—-childhood neighbours on Northwestern Ave. I have such memories of your Dad—warmhearted, witty and kind. I hope you find space to celebrate his wonderful self even as you grieve your loss. Such a lovely man.
Cathy, David, Rob, and Suzanne….Sending deepest sympathy and prayers to you all. It was just heartbreaking when I heard this news. Tom was a great friend and boss since 1975. He always had a fun story to tell and gave the best hugs ever. He loved talking about all of you and you all made him very proud. He will be greatly missed. Sending love and hugs.
I have known the Smailes family for many years. David and I were friends from Parkview Elem. I am very sorry to learn of your loss. I am praying for you and thinking about your family during this very difficult time.
My sympathy to Cathy,David,Suzanne, and Rob. I will definitely miss Tom. We used to eat breakfast together occasionally and keep up dated, I have many fond memories of Tommy LeLonni. His name for himself I am sorry to be so late to get out to you guys, but you have my best wishes and fond memories of your dad.
I knew Tom as the GREATEST and politest person, working with Paul Maurer and the other Rx people at Maurer’s.
Mom started there working as a teenager in Wooster High School. The rest of Maurer’s became a family common word: HISTORY!
We loved to go there, and the GREAT Hot Fudge Sundaes I teased TOM about for these!($.25 cents each!)
What a Blessing from heaven is TOM. My sympathy to all the family; TOM is in a BETTER PLACE, as we all know!
Read Ecclesiastics 3: 1-10 + Psalms 25, for the love of TOM!
JIM APPLEMAN
PS:
I forgot to mention FRED in my review of TOM! I mentioned Paul! GREAT neighbor of mine on Oakley Road, Wooster!
Jim Appleman
He was such a wonderful man! So sorry to hear of Tom’s passing.