Obituary of Herman P. Smith

Herman Paul Smith, 81, passed unexpectedly from this life on Thursday, November 24, 2011 at Meadow Lakes of East Windsor, NJ. Herman, known as "Herm" and "Shorty" by family and friends was born August 30, 1930 in Vincennes, IN where his parents, Herman and Lavera Smith, were pastoring the Vincennes Church of God. His family also lived in Anderson and Noblesville, IN and Montivideo, MN Following six years in MN, his family became missionaries for the Church of God in Anderson, IN. It was the time that he spent growing up overseas that gave him a love for traveling and experiencing other cultures. Their family lived in Trinidad and in Kenya, East Africa. While in Kenya, Herm spent his free time hunting and walking about Kenya. It was said that most Kenyans knew him and called him by the name "tall one" as he was so much taller than everyone else. He attended Rift Valley Academy in Kenya and was the school's first graduate. It was during this time that he developed his life-long love of East Africa. Herm attended Anderson University, Ball State University and graduated from Tri-State College in 1957. He also served in the Army as a medical aide for three years. Herm's career began with Worthington Corporation in Dunellen, NJ. He then moved to Foster Wheeler where he worked as chief industrial engineer, manager of quality control and manager of sales. While at Foster Wheeler he traveled the world inspecting nuclear reactors before they could open. He married Ann L. Lacamera, in the spring of 1960 in North Plainfield, NJ and during their 51 years of marriage they found much enjoyment in traveling the country and the world. Herm also led safaris to Kenya introducing others to the land and the people he held so dear. After Herm retired, his love for animals and photography was evident in his newly developed hobby of wood carving, which earned him a master's level of achievement. He was preceded in death by his parents Herman and Lavera Smith; sister-in-law Mary Schionning and husband Ernie, brother-in-law James McKeever and nephew Michael Madden. Left behind are: his wife, Ann L. Smith; sister Kathy DeLisle and husband Bill of IN, sister-in-law Inez Franko and husband Mike of NJ, sister-in-law Josephine McKeever of NJ; nieces and nephews Joy Plummer of IN, Steve DeLisle of IN, John Madden and wife Barbara of NJ; Cynthia Gave and husband John of MI; Susanne Madden and husband Anthony Jones of France; Kathleen Sennet and husband Bob of MD; Jimmy McKeever and wife Anna of NJ; Sandra Maxim and husband Peter Becker of NJ and Karen Berkrot and husband Peter of MA as well as many great nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held on Saturday, December 3, 2011 from 1:00 - 3:00 pm followed by a 3:00 pm Funeral Service at Higgins Home for Funerals in Watchung. Private entombment will be held on Monday, December 5, 2011 at St. Mary's Stony Hill Cemetery in Watchung.