Pete H. Smith

Pete H. Smith, age 85, passed away unexpectedly on May 23, 2026, at his home in Olathe, Kansas.

Pete was born on January 15, 1941, in Manchester, Iowa, to Herbert and Ina (Cocking) Smith at his family’s generational apple orchard, the fourth of five children. He attended a one-room schoolhouse and graduated from West Delaware High School in 1958. Shortly after graduation, Pete entered the military and served in the aviation sector of the Navy in California, where he completed electronics technician training. In his spare time, Pete proudly obtained his pilot’s license.

After serving his country, Pete began working in California, where he met the love of his life, Judy (Forson) Smith. They married in Van Nuys, CA, on September 8, 1963, and eventually had two sons. Later he convinced his wife to return with him to Manchester to help with his family’s apple orchard, where they had their daughter.

Blessed with remarkable resourcefulness and widely known for his handyman skills, Pete generously shared his talent for repair with anyone in need. Besides managing the Smith Apple Orchard, through the years Pete was employed at Loecke Building Service and Exide Technologies, as well as running his own business, Pete’s Repair.

After retirement in 2004, Pete enjoyed traveling with Judy to southern parts of the United States in their RV until settling down in Mesa, AZ for a few years. They later moved to Kansas to be near their son, David, and his family.

Throughout his life, Pete was actively involved at First Baptist Church in Manchester, serving as a deacon and a trustee. He loved being involved in AWANA Clubs to help guide local youth in their quest for a close relationship with their Lord and Savior. He was also active in the community, collaborating with neighbors to restore the one-room schoolhouse he had attended as a boy. This schoolhouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999 as the McGee Brick Schoolhouse.

Pete was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert and Ina; his brother, Linford; his sisters, Barbara and Mary Ellen; and his son, Alan. He is deeply missed by his devoted wife of over 62 years, Judy; his children, David (Jennie) of Overland Park, KS and Judith Anne of Reus, Spain; his brother, Lowell of Cortland, NY; and his eight cherished grandchildren: Justin, Allison Anderson(Nate), Katelyn Buss(Jonah), Megan, Jordan, Lauren, Aina, and Wendy.