Paul W Smith Obituary
Paul William Smith Jr, 96, formerly of Franklin Lakes, NJ, died peacefully at his home at Cedar Crest Village on Thursday, April 6th. He is predeceased by his beloved wife of 59 years, Mary Louise (Hoffman) Smith. Also predeceased by his sisters, Alice Smith and Margaret (Smith) Ducharme, brother Gerard Smith, son-in-law Robert McQuillan, and granddaughter Sarah Smith. He was also recently predeceased by his loving wife of twelve years, Lorraine (Sproul) Smith. He is survived by his youngest sister, Sr. Carol Ann Smith.
Born and raised in Glen Rock, NJ, the son of Paul William and Margaret (Kennedy) Smith, he raised his family in Franklin Lakes, NJ.
He was the devoted father of eight; Paul W. Smith III of Boynton Beach, FL; Deborah (Smith) Vier of Franklin Lakes; Pam (Steve Frankenhouse) McQuillan of Boynton Beach, FL; Douglas (Susan) Smith of Franklin Lakes; Kenneth (Kate) Smith of Mendham; Robert Smith of Franklin Lakes; Timothy (Amy) Smith of Warwick, NY; and Audrey Smith of Durham, NC. He was the loving grandfather to fourteen surviving grandchildren; Kelly, Lindsay, Brian, Kathryn, Michael, Jeffrey, Nicholas, Colleen, Maggie, Jessie, Doug, Paige, Evan, and Liam, and eight dear great- grandchildren.
Paul attended Ridgewood High School, class of 1944. Upon graduating, Paul proudly served his country in the Navy during World War II. He went on to attend Rider College where he met his wife Mary Lou and married in 1950. Paul began his career as a salesman for various companies including Hormel hams and Gray dictation equipment. In 1964 he bravely ventured into creating his own business. Initially entitled Magnetic Dictation, he became an exclusive distributor of Lanier business products and as the company grew and diversified, it became Office Business Systems, Inc.
Paul was an active parishioner of Most Blessed Sacrament R.C. Church of Franklin Lakes where he served on numerous committees and worked tirelessly in a fundraising capacity to build its first church. Although throughout the years Paul was involved in numerous charitable causes, his work for the Wyckoff YMCA was particularly heartfelt. Additionally, he was very proud when he was invited to join the Order of Malta, a faithful organization with a special devotion to helping the sick and the poor.
Raising the family in Franklin Lakes, Paul, a true “do it yourselfer” around the house, also loved to garden and share the vegetables he grew. He and his wife Mary Lou enjoyed their time at the Indian Trail Club, often picnicking and barbecuing in the Grove with many other families from town. The family also cherished their summers at their home on Shelter Island, NY, often entertaining friends and filling the days with biking, boating, and a lot of fishing.
He was blessed with lifelong friendships and together they would enjoy simple dinners at each other’s homes, parties filled with laughter, and travel to countless places. In retirement he and Mary Lou spent winters in Vero Beach golfing, boating, and providing a spot for his grandkids to gather and enjoy! For all of this, Paul continually expressed his unending gratitude for a life so blessed.
In late retirement, Paul and his beloved second wife, Lorraine, enjoyed summers at their condo in Spring Lake, NJ, and their final years at Cedar Crest Village, Pompton Plains.
Paul will be remembered for his sense of fairness, his warmth, his humor, and his love of family.
The family will receive friends on Thursday, April 13th from 4-7 PM at Vander Plaat-Vermeulen Memorial Home, 530 High Mountain Road, Franklin Lakes, NJ. A funeral Mass will be held on Friday, April 14th at 10:00 AM at St. Elizabeth’s RC Church, 700 Wyckoff Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ. Interment to follow at Christ the King Cemetery in Franklin Lakes.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made in Paul’s memory to the Little Sisters of Poor, Development Office, 140 Shepherd Lane, Totowa, NJ 07512-2188
