Jerry D. Smucker

On Friday, December 18th, 2020 the Smucker family unexpectedly lost their hero, Rev. Jerry D. Smucker, M.D., age 62, due to Coronavirus complications. Dr. Smucker lost his life while serving in his line of duty, fighting frontline as a physician of medicine in the battle against COVID-19. Dr. Smucker lived every moment in service to others as a husband, father, brother, doctor, pastor, mentor, and friend. His trademark was his keen wit, his dry sense of humor, and his servitude. His family and friends will always remember him as a man who endlessly gave of himself wherever and whenever he could.

Dr. Smucker was born in Goshen, Indiana on December 4th, 1958, to Ralph M. and Janet I. Smucker. He attended Goshen College where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Biology. He continued his education in Columbus, Ohio where he earned his Doctor of Medicine at The Ohio State University. Throughout his career, Dr. Smucker served as a physician at several acclaimed hospitals in the Columbus area and around Ohio. Dr. Smucker also served as a member and chairman on many prestigious boards and committees aimed at serving his community. In 1989, he was awarded Teacher of the Year for his work in the Family Practice Residency Program at Grant Medical Center.

By the age of 28, Dr. Smucker had accomplished many of his life goals, yet he knew there was something missing. He was searching for God. He reached out to many people and finally found a friend who told him about the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38). That same night, he knelt down next to the bed in his hotel room and received the gift of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues (Acts 2:4). Soon after receiving the Holy Ghost, he was rebaptized in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38). After his own new birth experience, Dr. Smucker’s greatest desire was to see people receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and be baptized all around the world. The rest of Dr. Smucker’s life was marked by his love for Biblical Truth and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He served in various leadership roles at The Church Triumphant where he eventually served as senior pastor from 2012 to 2019. He recently reached a ministerial milestone: 25 years in fellowship with the United Pentecostal Church International.

After his faith, Dr. Smucker’s family was the thing dearest to him. His family meant the world to him and he was the world to them. The Smucker family traveled to various cities, states, and countries, sometimes on vacation and often to minister. In 2006, Dr. and Mrs. Smucker took the trip of a lifetime to France. Dr. Smucker loved Claude Monet and was able to see his first Monet painting in person on this trip. Though he loved to travel, Columbus was his home. He met his wife, Julie, and raised his beloved children Austin and Emily in Columbus. Dr. Smucker’s passing has created a massive hole in the lives of his family and all who are grieving. Such men are hard to come by and the world is left emptier at their parting. Yet we stand sure that where Dr. Smucker is there is no more sickness, no more pain, and no more death (Rev 21:4).

Dr. Smucker’s visitation will be held Monday, December 28th at Calvary Apostolic Church ( 2551 W. Schrock Rd. Westerville, OH 43081) from 3-6 pm with the celebration of life service immediately following. For those who are unable to attend in-person, the service will be live-streamed on Calvary Apostolic’s Facebook and Youtube. In lieu of flowers and in accordance with Dr. Smucker’s love of Missions, the Smucker family has asked for donations to be made to Calvary Apostolic Church under the description “Missions in Memory of J. D. Smucker''.