Captain (retired) Kenneth R. Smart, 64 of Salona, PA passed away on July 6, 2011 at the Gate House, Divine Providence Hospital in Williamsport, PA after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Ken never lost his battle with cancer, and cancer never won the war; God just needed a very special man to fill a heavenly void. A choir of heavenly angels sang outside his hospital door and who the singing stopped he had no pain anymore. With all the love and strength she had inside her, his loving wife released him into the loving arms of our Lord, knowing they would again be together next time for eternity. He was born on May 25, 1947 in Lock Haven, PA a son of Robert K. Smart and the late Shirley N. Barrett Smart. Ken and his wife, the former Sue (Alice) Everett, formally from Caribou, ME were united in marriage on October 19, 1968 in the United Baptist Church in Caribou. He was a 1965 graduate of Bald Eagle Nittany High School and graduated cum laude from Troy University, Alabama in 1976 with a BS in Computer Science. Education was always important to Ken and he always encouraged people (young and old) to obtain as much knowledge and education that was available to them. He was an Air Force veteran with 21 years of service to his country and 2 ½ tours of duty in Vietnam. After spending 11 years as an enlisted member of the Air Force Ken was accepted into the Officer Training Academy. After serving 10 years as an Air Force Officer, he retired on December 31, 1986 with the rank of Captain at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. Ken received numerous military medals and ribbons and in 1978 was awarded the 552nd AWAC – WG Company Grade Officer of the year at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma. He was employed at Penn State University as an information systems analyst, retiring on December 31, 2010 due to his declining health. He has also been a teacher at South Hills for over five years. Ken was a member of several organizations over the years and most recently was the treasurer and life member of the Southern Clinton County Sportsmen Club. His greatest joy for the past 11 years was being coordinator of the Youth Field Day event held every year at the Sportsmen Club in which over 120 youths got to spend the day participating in numerous outside sporting and nature events. He was an avid Penn State Football fan as well as a Boston Red Sox fan. He not only enjoyed watching sports, he also participated in sports; playing softball, golf, hiking and hunting. He loved being the coach of his wife’s top winning women’s softball team in Anchorage, Alaska. Ken loved spending time in the great outdoors just enjoying natures many wonders. He is survived by his wife Sue (Alice), his father Robert and step-mother Kathryn, three sisters, Madelyn Johnson of North Carolina, Pam (Jim) Ripp of Nevada and Eva Hahn of Virginia; two sister-in-laws, Betty and (Arthur) Fortin, Jenny (Ronnie) Rafford and one brother-in-law George (Carol) Everett al of Caribou, Maine and numerous special nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and a great, great nephew. He was predeceased by his mother Shirley, Sister Cathy Donahay, and father-in-law Thomas Everett and mother-in-law Olive Everett. Ken will be greatly missed by many friends he had made over his lifetime; his very special neighbors Chad and Deb Karstetter, his “little girlfriend” Leah Karstetter and especially by his three little buddies – Tazza, Abbey and Smorezee. Friends may call at the Mockler Funeral Home 24 Reservoir St. Caribou Monday 7:00 – 9:00pm. A funeral service with military honors will be held 1:00pm on Tuesday July 12, 2011 from the chapel of Mockler Funeral Home with Rev. John Kiehn Officiating. A committal service will be held at Thursday July 14, 2011 at the Maine Veterans Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at 3:00pm, Friday, July 15, 2011 at the First Church of Christ, 330 N. Vesper St. Lock Haven, PA. Memorial contributions may be made to your local SPCA or to the charity of your choice.
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