William A. Smelas, Jr.

William A. Smelas, Jr., of Palmerton, Pennsylvania, died peacefully on Monday, April 5, 2021, at St. Luke's Hospice House in Bethlehem, PA.  He was 83 years old.  Born in Leetsdale, PA, he was a son of the late William Sr. and Julia (Cigan) Smelas.  He married the love of his life Marianne (Federanich) Smelas in May of 1962.

Bill was a graduate of the former Leetsdale High School, class of 1955.  He also graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1960 with a degree in Chemical Engineering.  Bill was employed as a Senior Vice President of Horsehead Industries, formerly the New Jersey Zinc Company in Palmerton, for more than forty-one years, retiring in 2001.  Bill considered his coworkers as extended family.  A member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Palmerton, he served on the finance committee, cemetery board, church council, as a representative to the 2005-2006 Diocesan Synod, and as a Charter Board Member of St. John Neumann Regional School.  In the community, Bill served in numerous capacities throughout the years including the Palmerton Memorial Park Pool Board (1971 - present), as a lifetime member of the Palmerton Lions Club, the Eagle (Scout) Board of Review, a founding member of the Horsehead Community Development Fund, Palmerton Municipal Authority and the Palmerton Area Historical Society.

Bill shared his love of the Outer Banks for over forty years.  It was one of his favorite places to be together with all of the family.  Bill treasured the time spent attending various activities and accomplishments with his children and grandchildren throughout their lives, the whole time carrying a camera to capture the memories we share today.  Bill also shared his gardening talents by planting flowers at the main entrances of the PMPA, Sacred Heart Cemeteries and other locations throughout Palmerton.

Survivors: Wife.  Daughter, Elizabeth S. wife of Vincent Simpson of Bel Air, MD.  Sons, Thomas W. and wife Dianne of Schnecksville, and Daniel A. and wife Wendy of Jim Thorpe.  9 grandchildren.  5 great-grandchildren.  He was predeceased by an infant brother, Nicholas.

Services: Memorial Services, 11:30 a.m., Saturday, April 17, 2021, Campton Funeral Home, 525 Delaware Avenue, Palmerton, PA 18071.  Call, 9:30-11:30 a.m., in the funeral home.  Interment, Sacred Heart New Cemetery, Stoney Ridge Road, Palmerton.  Online Condolences may be left for the family at: www.schislerfuneralhomes.com .  We would like the memory of Bill to be a happy one and are requesting anyone attending to wear bright, cheery colors, especially blue, which was his favorite.

Contributions: May be made in his memory to Concourse Club, P.O. Box 4, Palmerton, PA 18071.