Gerald M. Smailes

WARSAW – Gerald Marvin Smailes, 81, died Monday, April 28, 2025, at Summa Health System’s Akron Campus.

Born September 18, 1943 in Coshocton, Gerald was a son of the late Russell and Alwilda (Zaugg) Smailes. He married Cheryl Leah Engel of Millersburg on June 12, 1964.

Gerald attended the Blissfield school before consolidation, graduating in 1961 from Warsaw High School where he had participated in Student Council, FFA, baseball and band. Upon graduation, he enrolled in the Ohio State University College of Agriculture. He was a 10-year member of the Blissfield Sunbeams 4-H Club for which he later became an adviser, and he participated in General Livestock Judging contests.

He was employed by Rice-Chadwick Rubber Company in Killbuck for 47 years, all the while being a lifelong farmer of his parents’ Clark Township farm. He was a member of the 100 Bushel Corn Club and enjoyed participating in and watching local tractor pulls. He followed NASCAR and loved splitting wood, attending family activities, and spending time with his golden retrievers, Sassy and Lassie.

A man of faith in the Wesleyan tradition, he was active with the Blissfield and Killbuck Methodist Churches and the Coshocton Christian Tabernacle. He and Cheryl enjoyed Southern Gospel Music and traveling to the National Quartet Convention. He served for many years as president of the Blissfield Memorial Day Society.

In addition to his wife of 60 years, he is survived by a son, Kenneth Dean Smailes of Killbuck; five daughters, Paula (Marlin) Miller of Sugarcreek, Pamela Smailes of West Lafayette, Patricia Reining (Jason Brooks) of Warsaw, Denise Robb of Millersburg, and Deborah Miller of Warsaw; 16 grandchildren, Jocelyn and Katrina Miller; Lindy, Sara, Alivia and Ava McConnell; Kaitlyn (Coleton) Dunlap; Trevor Turner; Austin, Ethan and Leah Reining; Colton, Breanna and Benji Robb; and Devin and Paxton Miller; and three great-grandchildren, Emma and Izzy McConnell, and Nova Dunlap.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Willard Smailes, and a sister, Donna McCoy.

A celebration of life will be held 1:00 p.m. Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Fischer Funeral Home in Warsaw, with his son, Pastor Ken Smailes, and Pastor Mike Jansen officiating. A live stream of the funeral will be available at service time on his obituary page at the funeral home website (FischerFuneralHome.com). Burial will follow in Blissfield Cemetery. A time of fellowship will be held afterward at the Killbuck Methodist Church, 410 N. Main St., Killbuck. Visitation is from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday, May 2, at the funeral home, as well as one hour prior to the service on Saturday.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Coshocton County Humane Society, P.O. Box 11, Coshocton, Ohio 43812.