Lewis J. Smith, 84, of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, peacefully passed into eternity on Friday, July 11, 2025, surrounded by his beloved family. He was preceded by his parents, Lewis B. and Marion T. (nee Murray). Lew’s Roman Catholic faith and family were the twin rocks anchoring his life.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia L., brother, Michael P. (and Celeste), and sister, Mary Ellen (and William); children: Melissa T. (and Trey), Robert M-D. (and Angela), Judith M., Jason D., Louise G. (and Ernie), Dawn A. (and Eric), Lewis “Sammy”, Joseph B. (and Ana), Michael S. (and Michelle), Noah M. (and Cassidy), and Timothy C.; grandchildren: Erica (and Kevin), Emma, Adrian (and Laura), Brenna, Arielle, Hannah (and Ryan), Austin, Jonah, Elleri, Sarah, Jessica, Jake, Kelly, Matthew, Melody, Nathan, Juan, Laura, Micaela, Asher, Olive, and Zion; and great-grandchildren: Aurelio, Micah, Lilah, and Penelope.
Born in New York City, his parents moved to Baltimore, where he grew up. The Vietnam War pulled him away from Baltimore’s public health service into the Army, where he thrived for 29 years. He served two tours in Vietnam and was awarded the Legion of Merit upon retirement. Along the way, he started his family and earned a master’s degree while coaching fencing at Southwest Texas State University. He eventually landed a history buff’s dream job in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where he taught ROTC at Gettysburg College. After the Army, he drove tour buses around the Gettysburg battlefield.
A life-long athlete, he competed for his high school (Baltimore City College ’58), in college (Loyola ’62), and for the Army (modern pentathlon ’65 – fencing, running, swimming, horseback riding, and marksmanship). After retiring from military service, he worked as a physical education teacher in Gettysburg and Baltimore, athletic director for York High School, and referee and umpire for various sports and local youth leagues.
He loved the woods and nature. He spent his childhood summers living without electricity in a rustic cabin on Broad Creek, a tributary of the Susquehanna River in Maryland. Later summers were spent with his mother’s extended family on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. He was an Eagle Scout. He enjoyed camping and supported campers for many years at Broad Creek Scout Reservation, Maryland, Camp Belgrade, Maine, and Camp Tuckahoe (near Dillsburg), and hiking sections of the Appalachian Trail and canoeing with his children.
Supporting charities of his faith, for veterans, and for Native Americans was dear to him. A consummate “shutter bug” and amateur genealogist, he spent his later years collecting, cataloging, and sharing family stories, images, and albums. He always had a camera at his side, snapping photos of our lives, and he will continue to live on in our hearts.
A memorial service and interment will take place on November 8 at Saint Francis Xavier Church and cemetery, Gettysburg. The service and reception will be open to the public. In lieu of flowers, please honor him with a gift to a veterans’ organization (such as the American Legion or Veterans of Foreign Wars) or any veteran charity. Online obituary and condolences available at monahanfuneralhome.com.