Gregory H. Smith, 75, of Lucasville, passed away on Friday, October 31, 2025, at the Sanctuary of the Ohio Valley in Ironton. Greg was born on January 20, 1950, in Portsmouth, the son of the late Homer Thomas and Shirley Louise Vogel Smith.
Upon graduation from Valley High School in 1968, he attended Ohio University for a period of time and soon afterward joined the U.S Navy proudly serving six years of active duty as both a hospital medical corpsman and as an optician fabricating glasses for U.S. soldiers during the Vietnam War. After completing his active duty service, Greg then served in the Naval Reserves as a hospital corpsman and later as a fleet training officer traveling to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for many years. Altogether, Greg served 26 years of active and reserve duty, retiring as a Chief Petty Officer. He was a member of the William A. Baker Post #363 American Legion. After completion of his active duty service, he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and an Associate’s Degree in Business Management from Ohio University.
Greg worked for Amerinet, a hospital group purchasing agency for over 20 years, having retired as Regional Manager of Ohio and parts of Kentucky. Greg attended Rubyville Community Church and enjoyed playing golf. In his younger years he was also an avid fisherman. However, his preferred way to spend time was with his grandchildren, and he rarely missed an opportunity to attend one of their games or other events.
On January 8, 1972, he married Paula Kaye Moritz Smith in Portsmouth, and they celebrated over 53 years of marriage. The couple was blessed with two children, Cindy (Chad) Turner of Minford and Amy (Aaron) Reeder of Wheelersburg; and five grandchildren, Austin (Chloe) Reeder, Gracie Turner, Alex Reeder, Ashton Reeder, and Gabe Turner.
Also surviving are four sisters, Susan E. (Paul) Keller of Wheelersburg, Debra Smith of Colorado Springs, CO, Dayna L. Lemieux (Ken) of Oneida, TN, and Gina G. (Scott) Mercer of Portsmouth; five nieces, four nephews, and many cousins; and his favorite furry friend, Kat.
In addition to his parents, Greg was also preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Ron Smith.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at the Ralph F. Scott Funeral Home in Portsmouth with Rev. Dr. Calvin Ray Evans and Rev. Brian Baer officiating. Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens with the William A. Baker American Legion Honor Guard providing Military Rites.
The family will receive guests at the funeral home on Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. and one hour prior to services on Tuesday.
Memorial contributions may be made to Evangelistic Outreach Ministries, 299 Ohio Ave, New Boston, OH 45662, and the Disabled American Veterans at help.dav.org.
In honor of Mr. Smith’s service to our country, the flag of the U.S. Navy will fly at the funeral home.
