John Bernard Smith (Bubby)

John Bernard Smith, Jr., son of the late John Sr. and Violet Smith, was born on October 15, 1916 in Shawsville, Md. on the Maryland-Pennsylvania line. He was the second child and the last surviving of nine children.Early in life, his parents moved the family to Baltimore, Md., where they resided in the Sandtown area. While being educated in the Baltimore City Public School System, he was forced to leave school early to pursue employment to help support his family due to his father’s failing health. He held numerous jobs in the Baltimore City area before entering the United States Army, where he served honorably for three years and received several medals, including a Purple Heart.In 1941, he married his best friend and sweetheart Katherine W. Day, who preceded him in death in 1978. Out of this union, eight children were born: Sylvia, Gregory, Michael, Steven, Robert, Linda, David and Paul.He was affectionately known to many as “Bubby,” and known to his grandchildren and great grandchildren as “Bub Bub.”Bubby was a hard working man, who retired from Bethlehem Steel after thirty-one years. He believed a hard day’s work for an honest day’s pay was a good thing, a lesson he taught all of his children. He could often be found after a hard day’s work doing work around the house, helping his wife his neighbors or his friends. He could fix almost anything.Some of his favorite pastimes were baking lemon meringue pies and homemade rolls and spending time with his children. Some of our fondest memories of Bub Bub are of him piling everyone into the car for a trip somewhere around town.After his retirement, he spent many days fishing and gardening. His love for fishing was passed on to his children, who accompanied him on numerous fishing trips, enjoying great fun and fellowship. In his early retirement years, he met his second love, Olivia Bonds, whom he shared the rest of his life with. Her devotion to him was unsurpassed as his health began to fail.He leaves to cherish his memory: a devoted friend, Olivia Bonds his children, Sylvia Baker, Gregory, Michael, Steven, Robert, Linda, David and Paul Smith; son-in-law, Harvey Baker; five daughters-in-law, Jackie, Cynthia, Ruth, Carolyn and Angela Smith, all of Baltimore, Md. Also, he leaves twenty-two grandchildren, numerous great and great-great-grandchildren; one aunt, Dorothy Washington; nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many, many friends.

Tributes

John Bernard Smith (Bubby)

October 15, 1916 - February 13, 2004