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Welcome to the memorial page for

Joseph John Smakula

August 2, 1924 ~ July 11, 2017 (age 92) 92 Years Old


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Smakula: Joseph John born August 2, 1924, in Hooversville, PA passed away on July 11, 2017 at home.  Joe graduated from Hooversville High School in 1942 and joined the Navy, where he proudly served in Naval Aviation until the end of WWII.  He met his first wife, Nola I. Stalker, while stationed in San Diego.  After the war, the returned to Pennsylvania where he earned his Bachelor of fine arts degree in education from Lock Haven State Teacher’s College.  Later, he earned his masters of science degree in education from San Diego State University.  Over his 30 + year teaching career, he taught and coached in many school districts, including Blairsville and Everett High Schools, in PA, and at the former Belt Jr. High School, Wheaton Hogh School, and Rockville High School in Montgomery County, Maryland before retiring in 1988.  He also managed many swim clubs in the summers during his teaching career. In his spare time, he enjoyed traveling, photography, coin and stamp collecting, working on (and building) grandfather clocks, tinkering with HO trains, drawing cartoons, and watching his beloved Pittsburgh Pirates and Steelers.  He is survived by his wife, Sandy Smakula, his children Phil (Barb) Elaine, stepsons Darren Coulter (Traci) and Matthew Elliot (Leigh), grandchildren Jenni (Blake) Templeman, Paul, and Katie (Anthony) Zorzos, and Step grandchildren Samantha and Elijah, and great grandchildren Ella, Brady, and Nolan Templeman, and Charlie Zorzos.  He is also survived by his younger brother Phil “Smokey” (Kush) Smakula, and many nieces and nephews.  He is predeceased by his first wife Nola and his brothers John (Mill) and George (Jane), and sister Helen (Joe) Gavlak.  A visitation will be held from 10 A.M. until time of service at noon Saturday July 15 at the George E. Mason Funeral Home, Inc. Davidsville. Commital St. Anne Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers family suggests donations be made to St. Jude’s Childrens Hospital 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 USA / donors@stjude.org or to Grane Hospice Care 106 Zee Plaza Noth Juniata Street Hollidaysburg, PA 16648.  


Charitable donations may be made to:

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105
Tel: 1-800-805-5856
Web: http://www.stjude.org/

Grane Hospice Care
106 Zee Plaza North Juniata Street, Hollidaysburg PA 16648



 Service Information

Visitation
Saturday
July 15, 2017

10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
George E. Mason Funeral Home, Inc.
1687 Tire Hill Road
Davidsville, PA 15928

Prayer Service
Saturday
July 15, 2017

12:00 PM
George E. Mason Funeral Home, Inc.
1687 Tire Hill Road
Davidsville, PA 15928


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