Obituary of Valgean Faye Smeltzer

Valgean “Val” Faye McQuaide Smeltzer Valgean “Val” Smeltzer, age 96, of Millcreek Twp., passed away at UPMC-Hamot on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, after a brief illness. She was born on March 13, 1926 in North Washington, PA, the daughter of the late William Lloyd and Hazel Watson McQuide. She had been employed at Skinner Manufacturing for 20 years where she was known as “10 speed”. She was a member of Church of the Cross. Val loved to sing, shop for clothes, walk on the Peninsula, cook, sunshine, Lawrence Welk, cookies, banana bread, and her ultimate favorite, lemon meringue pie. She loved flowers and knew the names of every flower brought into the house. She loved her dogs Lexi and Smokey. Val traveled to Hawaii, New Zealand, Spain, Europe, Australia and Disney World. Val had a kind word for everyone, always smiled, had a great sense of humor and wit about her. She loved life. She was preceded in death by her husband John Smeltzer in 1988, an infant daughter Sharie Lane Smeltzer, and one brother Thomas McQuaide. She is survived by her devoted son Wesley, who was her pride and joy. He took care of her for 13 years and always said “she was the world’s best mom” and she repeatedly said “he was the world’s best son”. She will be greatly missed by him. Also survived by two grandchildren Jordan Smeltzer (Adriana) of Yorkville, IL, Brittany Ziegler (Scott) of Plainfield, IL, and three great-grandchildren; Olivia, Joshua, and Drew. A special thank you to Terry and Jerri Carlin for their friendship through the years, and Antoinette Herbstritt, Val’s dear friend and caregiver for her love and compassion given to her these past 4 years, also thanks to Melissa Herbstritt and Patty Onslow. Friends may call at the Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 4216 Sterrettania Rd. on Thursday, May 5, 2002 from 2 p.m. until time of the funeral service there at 5:30 p.m. Private inurnment at Greenwood Cemetery in Lower Burrell, PA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the National MS Society, PO Box #91891. Washington, D.C. 20090.