Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Jack L. Smythe, 85, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at Grace Village Retirement Community in Winona Lake.
Jack, the oldest of three children, was born on Oct. 16, 1939, in Warsaw, to Ernest L. and Gertrude I. Smith Smythe. He grew up in Palestine and learned the plumbing trade from his father. He attended Mentone High School.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and proudly served on the U.S.S. Snowden DE-246 as a pipefitter and welder in the engine room. Jack was honorably discharged in 1962.
He would take Nancy Paseka as his bride in Warsaw.
Jack loved autobody work and was a fantastic welder. He would own Smythe & Sons Autobody and Smythe & Sons Wrecker Service in Warsaw. He worked for Smith’s Excavating for many years and would choose to take early retirement at 62.
Jack was known for his temper but also for his hilarious personality. He had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh. He was tender-hearted, and his family would joke about his cry face that resembled the Cowardly Lion from “The Wizard of Oz.” Jack was literally a jack-of-all-trades. He came from a musical family, playing the guitar, singing and loved tap dancing with his father. He enjoyed his barley hops a lot and hanging with his buddies.
He accepted Christ as his Savior in the Palestine Church and will be dearly missed by those who knew him. Jack was a member of the Warsaw American Legion Post #49, the VFW Post 1126 and the Moose.
Jack is survived by his children: Jamie Smythe, of Mentone; Byron (Lisa) Trout, of Churubusco; and Kimberly Begley, of Mentone; five grandchildren: Amber, Brian, Matt, Sarah and Stephen; eight great-grandchildren; his sister, Susie Riffe, of Fort Meyers, Fla.; and many nieces and nephews. He was lovingly cared for by Doug and Melody Luecke.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; his sister, Sandra Snyder; and brother-in-law, Stephen Riffe.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to noon on Friday, June 6 at McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapels, 2290 Provident Court. Funeral services will follow at noon in the chapel with Pastor Jim Gilmer officiating.
Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw, with military honors.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the funeral home for funeral expenses or to the American Legion Post #49.
