Colon H Smith

Colon Hugh Smith (Smitty), 95, passed away on Saturday April 27, 2019 at Pennswood Village in Newtown Pennsylvania.

Colon is predeceased by his loving wife Pauline, brother A. Merlin Smith; niece Donna Woodcock; and grandson Jake Beautz. Colon is survived by his children Paul (Jan) Smith, Gary (Kim) Smith and Carol (Ed) Beautz; nephew Tim Smith; grandchildren Tammy Mortimer, Chelsea Perez, Katherine Smith and Steven Beautz; and five great grandchildren.

Smitty was born on February 19, 1924 to Alfred and Cecil Smith in Hopewell, NJ. He graduated from the Pennington High School in 1942 and went on to study engineering at Lehigh University. After enlisting in the Navy he reported to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on July 1, 1943 to continue his engineering studies as part of the World War II V-12 program. He continued on to Cornell University for midshipmen school, commissioned as an Ensign on November 9, 1945. After attending Naval Supply School in Bayone, NJ he was assigned to the USS Curtis in the post-war Pacific theater where he served on the Admirals’ staff, Fleet Air Wing One.

Smitty returned to the States and was discharged August 1, 1946. He completed his final semester at MIT under the GI Bill and married is hometown sweetheart Polly Cadwallader on February 26, 1949. He began his professional career in the ITT Executive Training Program, spending time in pre embargo Cuba. Next he moved on to Curtis Publishing, publisher of The Saturday Evening Post, in Philadelphia. They moved to Pennington in 1953 where Smitty managed the Woolsey & Cadwallader lumber and millwork business. After the family business was sold, he accepted a project management position with Robert E. Lamb, a commercial engineering and architectural firm. After completing a project for Mobil Research, Smitty was recruited to participate in managing the future expansion of the Mobil facility located just outside of Pennington. He retired from Mobil after a long and rewarding career.

Smitty is remembered by family and friends as a loving, caring and happy person. He was a lifetime athlete, a three letterman in high school and lacrosse player at MIT. Smitty particularly enjoyed tennis, skiing and golf as an adult. Smitty and Polly enjoyed many years with family and friends at their getaway home on Lewis Lake. He was active in his community; Pennington Borough Council, founding principal of the Pennbrook Swim Club, Pennington Presbyterian Church, Lions Club, Lewis Lake Association and Pennington Cemetery Association.

In 2003 Smitty and Polly, along with beloved friends Ruth and Jack Bertolino, followed a Cadwallader family tradition and moved to Pennswood Village. Smitty continued his volunteer spirit as an active member of the Pennswood community. He also continued his athletic accomplishments being crowned the Pennswood Wimbledon croquet champion.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday July 6, 2019 at Pennswood Village, 1382 Newtown-Langhorne Road, Newtown, PA 18940. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the National MS Society. The Smith family would like to thank the staff at Pennswood Village for their sincere care giving.