Joseph L. Smith, age 72, passed away at his home unexpectedly in Campobello on May 10, 2012. Jo Jo was born in March 1940 in Youngstown, Ohio, the son of Joseph L. Smith Sr. and Alice (Nan) Wootoplus Smith. Joe and his surviving wife, Roberta (Robi) Bode Smith, just celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on May 6. He Lived his life to the fullest, starting as a wrestler for Ursuline High School and then turning “cowboy,” doing rodeos and training/showing horses while life guarding.
Joe received his degree in bachelor of science in mathematics at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa., while on the Bearcats football team. He was part of the National Ski Patrol and received a Heart of Courage for saving a skier’s life.
Joe was a corporate systems analyst for Bethlehem Steel in Chesterton, Ind., Buffalo, N.Y. and Johnstown, Pa. Joe continued his education and graduated from Harvard Business School and worked at the Jockey Club in Lexington, Ky.
He was chief information officer at ComDisco in Chicago, Ill. He also worked for Reeves Industries and traveled to their branch in Italy. Before he retired, he worked for Dunlop/Maxfli/Slazenger.
Joe is the owner/developer of Bore Brite. He continued to work for the Spartanburg Schools as a tutor and teacher for adult education in math. He also worked for Thompson Law Firm as a legal consultant. He was a level 3 sporting clay instructor and member at River Bend and past instructor at the Paragon School of Sporting. He was NRA certified and recently completed the course in concealed weapons to become a certified instructor.
Joe was a very giving person and donated/volunteered for many organizations, one of them being the American Red Cross. He was a dedicated member of St. John Catholic Church in Tryon, along with the Knights of Columbus.
Joe is survived by his loving wife, Roberta Bode Smith; a sister, Arlene Ivan (Nicholas); a niece, Susan Prosser (Brian), and her son, Edward Curran; a nephew, Dr. Todd Ivan (Brynda), and his children, Maddy and Rhys; a nephew, Alan Paul; a niece, Christina Stowe, and her children, Tanya, Shauntae and Kaelyn; a niece, Janice Paul, and her children, David, James and Eric; a niece, Sharon Paul, and a niece, Kathryn Morrow, and her children, Aksel and Rayana.
Joe has been an inspiration and father figure to all of us and he will be missed tremendously.
Memorial services will be held at St. John Catholic Church in Tryon on Tuesday, May 15 at 7 p.m .
Petty Funeral Home & Crematory, Landrum.