Dr. Donald D. Smith, DMD Obituary (1938 - 2022)

Dr. Donald D. Smith, DMD, 83, of Corning, NY passed away on January 10, 2022 at Guthrie Corning Hospital. Don was born on December 16, 1938, in Brookville, PA and was the son of Ollie and Evalyn (Pohl) Smith. He attended Brookville High School and continued his education at Penn State University and Washington University in St. Louis. After graduating from Penn State, he met the woman to whom he would be devoted for the rest of his life, Peg Sowers. They were married at Immaculate Conception Church in Brookville on July 03, 1965. From there they moved to Corning where they would reside to the current day except for three years in St Louis, MO where Don went to dental school after working at Corning Glass Works for nine years. While working for Corning Glass, he co-authored the book "An Executives Guide To Forecasting". In 1977 he began his dental practice and worked there until retiring in 2016. Along the way, Don and Peg raised two boys, Mike and Tim, that not only looked up to him but caused him a fair amount of trouble. As a man, he truly redefined what it is to be a husband, father, and grandfather. Don lived an incredible life. As a child he was quite mischievous as his friends, teacher and nuns could attest. In fact, he hated school, despite becoming a Doctor. As a youth he enjoyed playing football, driving up and down Main St. in Brookville, and boating on the Clarion River. He especially loved the Adirondacks, Keuka Lake, watching Steelers games, and anything that involved bringing the family together. He loved his sons, their spouses, and his grandchildren beyond measure and was so proud to watch them become what they are today. In fact, his grandchildren got away with much more than his sons did. He also learned to love several puppies along the way, including Lexis, Gator and Dash. There is so much more to be said about what an incredible person Don was. His nieces, nephews, friends, and patients all have their own stories about a man who would always be teasing someone but who would do anything for them. Don was a member of St. Mary's Church and the American Dental Association. Don is survived by his wife, Peg, of 56 years; sons, Mike (Paula) Smith and Tim (Tonia) Smith, both of Corning; and grandchildren: Gretchen (Matt) Smith and Tanner Smith; brother-in-law, Bernard (Pat) Stanford; sister-in-law, Molly Smith; and many nieces and nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ollie and Evalyn Smith; and siblings: Fred (Leslie) Smith, Dorothy (Barney) Weyant, Jeanne (Richard) Baumgarten, and Norman Smith. A private Mass of Christian Burial will be held by the family at their convenience. Burial will be in St. Mary's Mausoleum. Memorial contributions can be made in honor of Don to the Corning Meals on Wheels, www.cmowheels.com; St. Jude's Hospital, www.stjude.org; or the Mario Lemieux Foundation, www.mariolemieux.org. Don's family has entrusted his care to Haughey Funeral Home, Inc.