John Percy Smith |
| Posted 2013-02-02 by Pat Wilson |
| In Loving Memory of John Percy Smith, May 24, 1918 - August 6, 2004. John passed away peacefully on August 6, 2004 with his loving son, John, by his side. His passing was a result of complications from congestive heart failure. He was 86. John is remembered fondly by his children, John Joseph, Pamela Ann Johns, Jay Phillip and Sandra Janine Nowlin and his four grandchildren, Joshua Levi Nowlin, Jacob Benjamin Nowlin, Zachary Alexander Nowlin and Margaret Elizabeth Smith and his brothers Charles Joseph Smith and Harry James Smith and sisters Dorothy Wadessie Flodder, Margaret Ethel Mohr and Doris Catherine Adams. John was born at home in Shelbyville, Indiana to loving Christian parents, Joseph J. Smith and Wadessie Augusta (Fastlaben) Smith. John's mother named him after her brother John Leo. They both shared the same birthday. John was the 4th of 9 children and was a "leftie". When John was born, World War I was still in progress and there was an influenza epidemic worldwide. Extra precaution had to be taken with all babies born during this period. His father gave him the nickname of "Goldbrick" because he had to be weaned on a special malted milk formula instead of breast feedings. He attended St. Joseph Catholic School his elementary years. He then entered Shelbyville High School and graduated in May 1936. John started working at age eleven as a caddie at the Blue River Country Club Golf Course in Shelby County, Indiana. He caddied until age fifteen when he became ill with asthma from being exposed to the pollens on the golf course. John worked for his father in his restaurant business for several years until his father insisted that he go to Terhune's Business College, a local business school, to learn accounting, typing, and other office procedures. In 1938 his teacher recommended him to the S. B. Morris Co., a local department store, as their bookkeeper. In 1941 he was hired by the Bradley Hall Furniture Company to be their Bookkeeper, Cashier and Credit Manager where he worked until August 1947 when he left due to poor health. He was classified as 4-F during World War II because of asthma and did not have the opportunity to serve his country. During this time he enrolled at Indiana University Extension in Indianapolis in its business school specializing in accounting and received an Associate Degree in Accounting in 1942. Rev. Clement M. Zepf at St. Frances Catholic Church in Shelbyville joined him in holy matrimony on Monday, April 2, 1945 at age 27 to Margaret Alice Morgan, age 22. John met Margaret in a social security class he was assisting teaching in Shelbyville. At this time he was living with his parents in Shelbyville. Before he was married John purchased a house in Shelbyville and furnished it from the furniture store where he worked. They held their wedding reception in their new home. When John became very sick in the spring of 1947, due to influenza and asthma and a serious allergy attack from the drug Sulfonamide, he and his wife decided that they would move to a better climate. They sold their house, auctioned off their furniture and left Shelbyville for somewhere in the southwest. Pulling a house trailer, which they purchased after selling their house, they traveled across the country looking for a place to settle down. On Labor Day, September 1, 1947 they started on an adventure to find a new place to live. After visiting Dallas, San Antonio, and El Paso, Texas and not being impressed with any of these cities they moved on to Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona. Upon arriving Phoenix they fell in love with the location and decided to make it their new home. Phoenix was clean and small with a population of 60,000 and the only major negative was that when they arrived in the middle of September it was still summer hot, but they were young and felt the constant sunny weather would be good for their health. The other thing they had to get accustomed to was the lack of green trees, although they appreciated the Palm trees and Saguaro cacti. They then became members of the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, a Jesuit church and school. On October 13, 1947 John went to work in Phoenix with Black & Ryan, Distributors, a Wholesale Appliance Distributor as Head Accountant and Credit Manager and later became Controller and Treasurer, which he thoroughly enjoyed. In 1965 Black & Ryan Air Conditioning Co. was formed and he was elected President. John served in these positions until the company was sold in 1975 at which time he retired. In June of 1950, just before the Korean War's freeze on building homes was declared, John and Margaret built a home for themselves and their first child, John Joseph. On Labor Day in 1960 John and Margaret moved into their next home near Camelback Mountain in Phoenix with their children John, Pamela and Jay. They then joined St. Theresa Catholic Church. In 1967, when John was 50 years old, a new daughter, Sandra Janine, was added to the family. When John retired, he decided to continue his education. The credits from his education at Indiana University were transferred to Arizona State University and after 2 1/2 years he graduated in May of 1978 at age 60 with honors and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. After graduating, John assisted several wholesale air conditioning clients as their Controller. John's hobby was magic and when he arrived in Phoenix he was invited to join the local Ring of the International Brotherhood of Magicians. John became a member of Ring #55 in March 1948 and over the years served in every office in the club. From 1980 through 1982 John served as convention chairman for the magic conventions that were held in Phoenix, Arizona. John met many famous magicians from around the world including David Copperfield, Harry Blackstone, Jr., Lance Burton and Andre Kole. In December of 1997 John was honored during the annual banquet of Phoenix Ring #55 for 50 years of continuous service. At the International Brotherhood of Magicians Convention in Hollywood, California in July 1998 he was awarded the "Order of Merlin Excalibur" for 50 years of continuous service. John always fulfilled his family's needs and was an affectionate husband to Margaret his loving wife of 57 years who passed away September 2002. He will be sorely missed and remembered as a loving father to his family. Visitation Monday, August 9, 2004 with a Rosary and reading of scriptures at Whitney & Murphy Arcadia Funeral Home, Phoenix, Arizona. Funeral Mass August 10, 2004 at Mount Claret Center, 4633 North 54th Street, Phoenix, Arizona. Donations may be made to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN).- Published in the Arizona Republic on 8/10/2004. |
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