Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
BurialWoodland Cemetery, Francis Street, Jackson, Jackson County, Michigan [58125]
FatherOwen B. SMITH (1880-1964)
MotherEthyle Ida KATHERMAN (1887-1969)
Spouses
BurialWoodland Cemetery, Francis Street, Jackson, Jackson County, Michigan [58127]
Marriage1939 [58126]
No Children
Obituary Online notes for John J. SMITH
John J. Smith, who guided Jackson-based Sparton Corp. as its chairman for 50 years, died Thursday at Foote Hospital.
He was 88.
Smith's death came a little more than month after he stepped down as chairman and chief executive officer. He resigned at the company's annual stockholder meeting on Oct. 25. He remained the company's largest shareholder with 31 percent of the stock. Relatives own another 14 percent.
"He left his mark on the company and had an awful lot of loyal employees," said Richard L. Langley, vice president, treasurer and assistant secretary at Sparton. "He apparently died peacefully and quickly, and in that fact there is a lot of comfort for a lot of people."
Smith was married for 58 years to Elinor Lamoreaux, who died in 1997. The two never had children.
Smith is survived by a sister, Elouise of Lake Worth, Fla., and a brother, Raymond K. Smith of Houston.
Another brother, Lawson Smith of Lake Odessa, died earlier this year.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at First United Methodist Church, 275 W. Michigan.
Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery.
Published in Jackson Citizen Patriot (MI) - December 3, 2000 [58125]
He was 88.
Smith's death came a little more than month after he stepped down as chairman and chief executive officer. He resigned at the company's annual stockholder meeting on Oct. 25. He remained the company's largest shareholder with 31 percent of the stock. Relatives own another 14 percent.
"He left his mark on the company and had an awful lot of loyal employees," said Richard L. Langley, vice president, treasurer and assistant secretary at Sparton. "He apparently died peacefully and quickly, and in that fact there is a lot of comfort for a lot of people."
Smith was married for 58 years to Elinor Lamoreaux, who died in 1997. The two never had children.
Smith is survived by a sister, Elouise of Lake Worth, Fla., and a brother, Raymond K. Smith of Houston.
Another brother, Lawson Smith of Lake Odessa, died earlier this year.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at First United Methodist Church, 275 W. Michigan.
Burial will be in Woodland Cemetery.
Published in Jackson Citizen Patriot (MI) - December 3, 2000 [58125]