James H. Smith

James (Jim) H. Smith, 82, of Galena, Ohio, passed away at his family home on June 4, 2025, after a brief illness. He was born on June 2, 1943, in Findlay, Ohio, to the late William P. and Mary Jane Smith.

Jim grew up in Columbus, Ohio, and graduated from Columbus North High School in 1961. Following high school, he proudly served in the U.S. Navy from 1962 to 1966. After his military service, Jim attended Franklin University and went on to work at Anheuser-Busch as a maintenance mechanic, where he enjoyed a career spanning over 30 years.

Jim believed in working hard and playing hard. When he was not working, he was a devoted football fan. He loved cheering on The Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturdays and the New Orleans Saints on Sundays. He was also a long-time supporter of the St. Francis DeSales High School football program.

Jim's true passion was cars as he loved classic muscle cars. He truly enjoyed working on anything with a motor. He raced go-karts as a teenager and later stock cars at Columbus Motor Speedway in the late 1960s. He was a lifelong racing enthusiast, with the Indianapolis 500 being his favorite race of the year. Over the years, Jim spent countless hours in his garage working on Corvettes and motorcycles. In retirement, he always had a special project in the garage that captured his time and attention.

Jim will be deeply missed by his family, including his loving wife of 58 years, Linda Smith; his sons, Jim Jr. (Angie) Smith; Joe (Alison) Smith; and his cherished grandchildren, Ty (Laney), Jake, Aurora, and Callum. Jim is also survived by his siblings, Tom, Jon, Joe, and Patty. He was preceded in death by his sister, Kit Girgan, and his brother, Bill Smith.

Jim's unwavering devotion to his family and friends will forever be remembered.

Rest In Peace.

A celebration of life gathering will take place at a future date.