Larry Lynn Smith, age 80, formerly of Akron, died peacefully on June 30, 2023, at 2:36 p.m. at the Parkview Wabash Hospital, Wabash.
He was born on May 22, 1943, in Argos, to Ned and Mildred Town Smith. Lynn graduated from Akron High School in 1961. He married Norma Kay Hiers on Nov. 26, 1961. He was a point guard on the high school basketball team and served as the treasurer of the FFA.
Lynn was a dairy farmer for 33+ years and worked at Sonoco several years in Akron. Other career jobs included maintenance tech at Life Care Center, Rochester; Craig’s Welding, Mentone; vehicle Porter and Parts runner and various other jobs.
In 1994, Lynn earned an associate’s degree at Ivy Tech for industrial maintenance technology. He had been a member of the Akron Lions Club. He enjoyed going to flea markets, sale barns and was a collector of John Deere items.
Lynn lived in Akron for 60+ years, then moving to Roann and lived there for six years. He and his wife then made the decision to move into The Waters of Wabash West in Wabash, Indiana, where Kay now resides.
Lynn was the “MacGyver” of the family and could fix or create a solution to any household maintenance issue or farming issue using various odds and ends we called the “Lynn-Rig.”
He enjoyed having morning breakfast with his buddies around the “Bull Shipper’s Table” in Akron, Indiana, as well as other local places in Roann and Laketon. He was a collector of various tools, machinery, all things “John Deere,” antiques and anything he could fix and resell, as well as whatever was left over from a sale.
To his grandchildren, he was known as “Poppie.” He made the best Poppie cakes (pancakes) and slushies. They always enjoyed staying overnight at Poppie and Grandma’s house and they supported all the grandkids extracurricular activities.
Surviving Lynn is his wife, Norma Kay Smith, of Wabash; three daughters: Lisa Studebaker, of Akron; Holly (spouse Kevin) Vedder, of Cookeville, Tenn.; Heather Runyan (fiancé Jason Starzak), of Portage; one son, Kalyn (spouse Kara) Smith, of Kokomo; seven grandchildren: Preston (spouse Molly) Studebaker, of Mentone; Leslie (spouse Bryce) Fisher, of Akron; Shelby Vedder, of Seattle, Wash.; Riley (spouse Justin) Robertson, of Frankfort; Avery and Cole Runyan, of Portage; Penelope Smith, of Kokomo; two great-grandchildren, Brylie and Logan Fisher, of Akron; one brother, Duane Smith, of Rochester; two sisters, Marilyn Brofford, of Akron; Janet (spouse Jerry) Vigar, of Akron.
Preceding Lynn in death are his parents; brother, Lyle Dean Smith; son-in-law, Dan Runyan.
To celebrate Lynn’s life, there will be a “Celebration of Life” gathering of friends and relatives on Saturday, July 8 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Earl-Love Funeral Home, 811 E. Rochester St., Akron.
In lieu of flowers, the family would like any donations to be made to the Tippecanoe Valley FFA. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
Online condolences may be sent to earllovefuneralhome.com.
The staff of Earl-Love Funeral Home considers it a privilege and an honor to care for the family and friends of Larry Lynn Smith.