Marvin F. Smith, 68, of Stafford Ave., Waterville, NY, passed away Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare, New Hartford, NY.
He was born January 27, 1943 in Honeoye Falls, NY, a son of the late Marvin J. and Jeanette A. (Smyth) Smith and was a graduate of Honeoye Falls High School. Marvin joined the U.S. Air Force and served in the Vietnam Conflict where he was awarded the Bronze Star. He served in the military for 20 years and his career took him to bases in Plattsburgh and Rome, NY, Greenland, Michigan, Georgia, Pease, NH and Turkey. On March 14, 1964, Marvin was united in marriage to Martha R. Fessenden at Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome. Following his retirement from the military, he worked for the Federal Aviation Administration in Syracuse for eleven years as an air traffic controller.
Marvin was a member and elder of the First Presbyterian Church in Waterville for 12 years. He was a member of the Clifford J. Fulmer American Legion Post of Waterville and the National American Legion. He was a former member of the Waterville Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps, and enjoyed fishing, hunting and camping in his leisure time.
Surviving are his guardian angel and wife of 47 years, Martha; his beloved daughters and their husbands, Melissa and Kenneth Karpovich of Greene; Michelle and Steven Selden of New Hartford; grandchildren, Amanda and Ryan Karpovich; two sisters and a brother-in-law, Shirley and Arthur Gebhard of Canton, OH; and Janice Sipple of Mesa, AZ; a special nephew, Jeff Gebhard and his wife, Debbie of Canton, OH; and a nephew Kevin Sipple of GA. Also surviving are his good friends Robert Sonia, Lisa Pedersen and Lynn Curtis, all of Waterville; his canine companions Hope and Faith, and his “grandpugs” Rocky and Apollo.
Funeral services will be held at 5pm Friday, October 21, 2011 from the Kloster-Northrop & Bentz Funeral Home, 210 E. Main St., Waterville.
Friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Friday from 3-5pm prior to the service.
Interment will be private at the convenience of the family.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Waterville Volunteer Ambulance Corps, or the Waterville Fire Department.
Marvin’s family wishes to thank the doctors, nurses and staff at Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare 6th Floor Oncology Unit and ICU, especially Dr. Toby Taylor, Dr. Ronald Kaye and Dr. Samir Desai for their compassionate care.
Provide comfort for the family by planting a tree in memory of Marvin F. Smith, please visit our
Heartfelt Sympathies Store.