Larry A. Smail's Blog

Friday, December 6 was my mother Ruth’s 95th birthday. We had a small birthday event at her favorite restaurant…The Cadet! Mom was born on December 6, 1929. Her parents, my grandparents, were James Edward and Mary Elizabeth Yount. Just think of the change she has witnessed. She remembers her dad’s first car. It was a Dodge Desota. around 1940.

Happy birthday !!!!!!!!!!!!!

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(Left to Right) Sister, Ruthie; mother-in-law, Anne Craft; mother Ruth and Laurie at the supper table.

On Wednesday, December 6th, my mother, Ruth E. Smail Miller, reached a milestone. She had arrived at the age of ninety-four years of age. I wondered about such things for she had failed in health during the four years of taking care of my stepfather, Bob Miller. He had passed away last April of cancer and mom did so much for him with his condition. The efforts weighed heavily upon her. She became frail and has been dealing with some early dementia. (My father, Allen Smail, passed away on June 20, 1999.)

Mother was born in 1929 and lived in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania all of her life. many years were lived on the road between Cochran’s Mill and Rearick’s Ford. Oh, to have seen the many changes over her time.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!!!!

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My father, Allen Kenneth Smail was born on June 4, 1923, in a home along what is known as Mutton Hollow in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. This may have been the home of a midwife of the times for the Smail family residence was just north and east of the present-day Cherry Run Intersection. This home was only a mile and half or so from the Smail Home. (As I type this the old homestead is no more. The state has dozed it all over while changing that intersection.)

My dad went to the McIntosh School just east of their home. The old school is still standing. later he went to Elderton High School where he graduated as valedictorian in the spring of 1941.

Old McIntosh School

In December of 1941 he was in a car at what was then Reedy’s store. This store was a hundred or so yards past the McIntosh School. Here he heard on the radio of the Pearl Harbor attack. In 1942, my dad was drafted and would be involved on the European Theater until the fall of 1945 as a corporal. During the Battle of the Bulge of 1944, my father was at a gasoline depot in Belgium. His order was to blow the depot up if the Germans approached. He was to go up with the explosion if necessary! he told me he could hear the shooting in the distance before the Germans were stopped! He served as military police and had a German Shepherd dog named Wolf. the dog was trained to attack on command.

Upon his return he began working again at the Schenley Distillers in Schenley, PA. He had worked there a short time prior to the draft.

My dad married Ruth Elizabeth Yount in 1953. I was the firstborn on July 19, 1955 and my sister Ruthie Elaine was hatched on July 11, 1958.

My dad blessed me in so many ways. He instilled in me a love of nature…hunting, fishing, trapping, hiking…hunting morel mushrooms and Indian arrowheads. He gave to me an interest in history especially Indian history as well as World War 2 history.

My father was a man of integrity; honest and a quiet man and well-liked by all. I hope I possess some of his traits so others can see him through my actions.

He left his job in 1983 when the Schenley Distillery closed down for good, and he began to fish and hunt more. As to what happens to us all, he began to have health issues as he aged.

Allen Smail died on Father’s Day, June 20, 1999. I still miss him dearly!!!!!

My dad would have been 100 years old on June 4, 2023.

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Bob Miller with a fall gobbler I called in to him.

Robert lee Miller came into the family’s life some time ago. He became interested with my mother, Ruth Smail and after I encouraged her, she went out on a dinner date with Bob. My mother had no interest with seeing any others since my father death in 1999. The two were married in my backyard gazebo in August of 2009. (Interestingly, I had to give my approval of this marriage.)

Bob was born on October 12, 1934 and lived in Dixonville, Pennsylvania in Indiana County until he later moved to Ohio for his job. His first wife died from cancer and Bob began traveling back to his home ground areas visiting campgrounds to be with friends and listen to the music.

The family all became close with Bob, and he treated my mother and us kids very well.

Hunting became an interest with Bob. He said, more than once, he had not hunted all that much until he became part of this family. Bob harvested his first spring gobbler and first fall gobbler while together on turkey hunts. He managed to get some deer on our hunts, as well.

Bob holding one of my spring gobblers. He was proud of my harvests.

One of Bob’s interests was with old cars. His 1954 Chevy Belair won a number of car shows places, mostly first place. The car still has only 26,000 original miles on it.

My mother with Bob at one of the car shows. The 1954 Chevy Belair is a beauty.

Bob loved country music, especially the classics of his era. He played a little guitar and loved to sing. I tried to work with him on some timing issues and actually made two CDs with him. I did all the music, and he sang on them. He and my mother followed me with the varied bands I had played music with over the many years. (He was at a music event I had played at one week before he was signed up with hospice care.)

Bob faced some bad events in his recent years. In December of 2018, a huge poplar tree fell grazing him knocking him to the ground with a very bad ankle break. We were hunting deer. I called 911 and he spent a number of days in the hospital and in therapy. In the spring of 2019, another event occurred that would affect all of the family’s lives. He had a growth and by summer it was discovered he had rectal cancer.

The aggressive form of cancer allowed for only living six to eight months without chemo. The chemo kept Bob alive but wore him down with time. He managed to live although the side effects were making him weaker and weaker. In December of 2022 the chemo was stopped, and the cancer began to, once again, act aggressively upon his body. He became even weaker to the point where walking was difficult. I, as the power of attorney, signed for hospice care in April of this year. In fact the signing was this past Monday. The decline continued and fast.

Hunting deer

Shooting a muzzleloader

Under hospice care, Bob eventually succumbed to the cancer attack. He passed away late on April 13, 2023 at home.

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Mother, Ruth all with smiles

Our 2022 Christmas had me facing mixed emotions. My mother, Ruth, now at 93 years of age is dealing with dementia-like symptoms, and this proves to be difficult for me at times. My stepfather, Bob Miller has been dealing with cancer for three years. Both are losing weight. So, I can’t help wondering how many Christmas get-togethers we all will have.

Anyway, we had a nice day together opening gifts, including our dog, Trixie. She loves to rip apart gift packaging and chasing red laser lights. Her antics brought many smiles. Sister, Ruthie sported a nice set of antlers. We had plenty to eat, as well!

Mother and Laurie. Laurie hates getting her photo taken.

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A friend living in Kittanning sent me a message stating my father’s veteran banner was up near his home. I searched this morning and found the display.

I was honored, humbled and proud to see this tribute on a street in Kittanning, PA..

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