Marven A. Smith

Marven was born on February 20, 1934 in Clearfield, Pennsylvania, the son of the late H. Adolphus Smith and Malvenia ‘Pinky’ C. (Guenot) Smith. He is survived by a son, Douglas Lee Adolphus Smith and his wife Maurine of Lancaster, daughter Vickie Jo Smith and wife Donna Stiles of Parsons, West Virginia, and a daughter Lisa Kay Giacobe, and her husband Nicklaus of Bellefonte, as well as his four grandchildren, Andrew Christian Adolphus Smith, Stephen Michael Giacobe and twins Elizabeth Joy Giacobe and Natalie Kay Giacobe and one great-grandson, Henry David Smith. He also has a surviving sister, Marie Peters, as well as many nieces and nephews, on both sides of the family, with whom he was very close. He is preceded in death by his brother, Jerry Lee Smith.

On August 25, 1955 Marven wed Diana L. Williams. They were married 60 years until her death in 2016.

After holding a position as foundry foreman at Clearfield Machine, Marven enjoyed a 28-year career as an instrument technician at the Penelec generating station in Shawville. Since his retirement, his passion was helping troubled kids and a strong interest in early care and education. Marven felt every child should have the opportunity to get an early start with social interaction no matter of their social standing.

Marven was a lifelong member of St. John Lutheran Church, Clearfield, where he was council president, a teacher, and actively involved in community outreach. He taught Sunday School and mentored the youth group through his thirties, forties, and fifties.

Marven served twenty years of his retirement doing projects at church and in his community. He loved with a great passion for others. He donated twenty gallons of blood through the Red Cross over his lifetime. He received many local awards from the YMCA, Clearfield Chamber of Commerce, PA Governor’s office, League of Social Services and the Clearfield Rotary Club, to name a few.

Marven either started or was involved in many community projects. He rebuilt homes in Iowa after the 1993 floods. He joined Pastor Jay Thorson, Robin Stewart, and Barbara Guiffre and established a Praise and Worship group called Psalm 151, which is still active. He formed a concerned citizen’s group called Clearfield Area Task Force on Youth. Marven helped a young woman and her mother who were stranded after a crash on I-80, got them back on the road, and inspired the young woman to continue her seminary work. He spoke to Alternative Education kids in high school for two years and worked with troubled kids in an after-school care program. He was involved in early care and education at the League of Social Services and started a Saturday night teen center at the YMCA. He also started another teen center “Crossroads” with Pastor Matt Kerber and local RSVP. He rebuilt houses in Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina. He organized the local skateboard park with Judge Frederic Ammerman and lawyer Peter Smith. In his later years, he entertained at Colonial Courtyard and other retirement homes, as well as the Clearfield County Jail.

Marven and his wife, Diana, started a “pay it forward” program, raising tens of thousands of dollars through donations and scrap drives for many community individuals and organizations, such as: The 10th Anniversary of 9/11 program, the Clearfield 9/11 memorial stone, two men who were injured in the military, the local theatre (CAST), the Clearfield Red Cross, Clearfield Swimming Pool Association, Oklahoma Tornado Relief, Clearfield Men’s and Women’s shelters, Crossroads Teen Ministries, First Books for children’s books, and the Project Santa program established by Robert and Sharon Kritzer, who lost their son Bradley in Iraq.

Friends will be received at The Bennett and Houser Funeral Home, Inc. in Clearfield on Friday, June 23, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The BPOE #540 Clearfield Elks Lodge will conduct an Elks Memorial Service at 5 p.m. in the funeral home.

A funeral/celebration of life service will be held at St. John Lutheran Church on the corner of Third and Pine Streets, Clearfield on Saturday, June 24. Family will receive visitors starting at 10:00 a.m. and the service will begin at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Robert Way officiating. A meal and celebration will follow in the Fellowship Hall. Interment will be in Historic Crown Crest Cemetery, Clearfield, PA

Memorial contributions can be made to the Clearfield Skate Park may be sent to Clearfield Borough (MEMO notation: Skate Park Fund), 6 S. Front St., Clearfield, PA 16830 or to St. John Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, (MEMO notation: Memorial Fund for Marven A. Smith) PO Box 1454, Clearfield, PA 16830.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.bennettandhouser.com for the Smith family.