Brad Allan Smith
Brad Allan Smith, age 44 of Dover, died May 24, 2018.
Brad was born in Salem, Ohio on June 27, 1974, and was a graduate of Carrollton High School.
Brad is a veteran who served in Iraq, where he was part of the First Brigade after 9/11. He earned several medals including the Combat Action Badge. He served honorably in the U.S. Army from 1998-2003. He was a hero and a protector to many people his children will never know. As a team leader in the Army Military Police Corps, he helped to train local defenders of their own lands and protected cities of innocent civilians abroad.
Brad was wounded in the line of duty and received other commendations for his dedication and bravery. Friends and family will attest that the discipline and patriotism Brad learned in the Army never left him. Following his active service, he worked as a patient advocate at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs from 2004-13 and studied criminal justice at Kent State University.
Brad was known for his sense of humor and kindness. Even when he was troubled with his own pain, he had the heart to reach out to friends and others with uplifting acts and messages. He also took great pride in the outreach work he did with children.
Brad is survived by his beloved sons, Pierce and Grant, who meant more to him than anything in life and for whom he beamed with pride. He would be grateful to know they will be raised by their mother and step-father, Amy and Dave Halter, for whom he had great respect.
Completing the family are his younger sister, Misty (David Borg) Smith, whom he helped his mother to raise; his nieces, Gracie and Madalyn Borg; his grandfather, Donzil Smith; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
In addition to his mother, Peggy Smith McCullough, Brad was preceded in death by his grandmother, Madeline Smith.
The family will greet guests on Thursday, May 31 from 4-7 p.m. in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia, where Pastor Floyd Stanfill will lead a service celebrating Brad’s life in the funeral home’s chapel at 7 p.m. Burial will take place in Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery on Friday, June 1 at 12:45 p.m.
Those wishing to do so may send the family a personal condolence and light a candle in remembrance of Brad by visiting the funeral home’s website at www.GeibCares.com.