Steele M. Klingensmith

Steele, a resident of Hoover. AL, was born October 3, 1928 in Greensburg, P A, to Frank and Sarah Steele Klingensmith. Early in his life the family moved to Clairton, PA, where he graduated from high school. Following that he studied at Bullis Preparatory School in Silver Spring, MD, and attended the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD. In 1952 he graduated from the University of Pittsburgh where he met his wife of 61 years, the former Joann Louttit.

As a teenager he became an Eagle Scout with an additional Palm award. In high school, he lettered in both football and swimming; and in college he played trumpet in the Varsity Marching band. Immediately following college he enlisted in the Navy where he was a line officer in the Mediterranean fleet during the Korean War, rising to the rank of Lieutenant.

After a 4-year deployment and discharge, he joined USX Corp. in Pittsburgh where he spent 30 years before transferring to Birmingham in 1985. During the latter half of his career he spent several years as a tinplate mill consultant in European, Asian, and South American countries.

In addition to his wife he is survived by a son Jeffrey (Clare) Klingensmith of Barnstable, MA; daughter Heidi Snyder of Pittsburgh, P A. He is predeceased by a brother, Joseph Klingensmith and his son-in-law, David Snyder. Grandchildren are Capt. Kurt (Kathryn) Klingensmith, of Los Angeles, CA; Katie Klingensmith of Waipahu, HI; Jeff Snyder of Pittsburgh; Capt. Charles (Cara) Snyder of Fort Polk, LA, and Greg (Alyssa) Snyder of Pittsburgh. Mr. Klingensmith is also survived by three great grandchildren.

For 20 years he was a member of Riverchase Presbyterian Church where he was an Elder and sang in the choir. Currently he is a member of Riverchase United Methodist Church.

The celebration of Steele's life will be at 11am on Saturday, September 19, 2015 at Southern Heritage Funeral Home in Pelham, AL. The family will receive friends beginning at 10am. The interment for Mr. Klingensmith will be in Monongahela, PA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Riverchase United Methodist Church, 1953 Old Montgomery Highway, Hoover, AL 35244.