Arthur D. Smith

Arthur D. Smith, 93 of Bernville, passed away on February 17, 2021 in The Reading Hospital, surrounded by his loving family.

Arthur was the son of Norton J. and Edna S. (Shartle) Smith, whose family included 10 children.  He was predeceased by 3 elder siblings who died in infancy; Harvey, the firstborn and twin girls, Rebecca Sally and Sally Rebecca.  He is also predeceased by elder brothers, Gilbert N. and Leon I. Smith.  He is survived by 3 younger sisters; Dorothy E., widow of Ray Himmelberger, Pearl A., widow of Thomas Schaeffer and Mildred M., wife of Earl E. Graeff, and a younger brother, Karl H., husband of Susan Smith.

Arthur is survived by his wife of 65 years, Anna Mae (Graeff) Smith.

He is also survived by son, Kevin A. Smith Sr. and his wife, Susan of Idaho Falls ID and daughter, Sherry L. (Smith) Ricketts and her husband, Jeffrey of Bernville.  Other survivors include 5 grandchildren:  Kevin A. Smith Jr., Zachary S. Ricketts, Alexandra B. Ricketts, Samantha G. Smith and Douglas A. Smith.

Arthur spent the majority of his livelihood farming and working as a carpenter.  He was last employed by DeLong Builders Inc. as a carpentry foreman, until his retirement in 1989.  He owned a 55-acre farm while also working full-time as a carpenter for 15 years.  In 1975, he built his current residence and maintained a 10-acre farmette.  In 1991, he gifted his daughter the 2½ acres next to his property and built her a house, which gave him the opportunity to watch 2 of his grandchildren grow from infants to young adults.

His true passions were farming and gardening.  He enjoyed tending the fields, planting a large garden of fruits and vegetables and maintaining a small orchard of a variety of fruit trees.

He was very proud of his large collection of tractors, which included several International Harvester Farmall tractors; red was always his favorite color.

He and his wife were lifelong members of St. Thomas Church, where both of their children and 2 of their grandchildren were also baptized. Arthur was rarely seen without a hat.  He enjoyed listening to Country & Western music and equally enjoyed singing or yodeling on occasion as well.

Arthur loved spending time with his family and he will be dearly missed by all who knew him.  The family is planning a memorial service for family and friends for later this year.

A viewing will be held on Tuesday, February 23rd from 9:30 am until 11:00 am in the Kirkhoff Funeral Home, 206 N. Main St., Bernville.

Social distancing is encouraged and masks are required.

Interment and graveside service will be private in Pleasant View Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Thomas Church, 536 N. Main St., Bernville, PA 19506.