John Dwight Smith

John Dwight Smith, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and entrepreneur, passed away peacefully on September 4, 2026, at the age of 87.

Born on July 9, 1939, in Trimble Township, Athens County, Ohio, John was the son of the late George Smith and Helen Gibbons (née Haskins). He grew up in Athens County, spending his childhood exploring the outdoors with his brother, Ronnie, and their many cousins. Those early years sparked a lifelong passion for hunting and fishing that stayed with him until the very end.

John’s life changed forever when he met Gloria Jean (née Betts) in Columbus, Ohio, beginning a beautiful love story and marriage that would span 67 years. Together, they built a life centered around family, hard work, deep faith, and a shared determination to create a good future for their children.

A natural entrepreneur, John first owned John's Hair Fashions in Bexley, Ohio. He and Gloria later made the bold move to Naples, Florida, where John became one of the early franchise owners of Stanley Steemer. Through decades of hard work, John and Gloria successfully expanded their business to include multiple franchises throughout the Southeast before eventually settling in Orlando, Florida.

Yet, for all his business success, John remained anchored by the simplest things in life. He loved being out in nature and, above all, spending time with his family. He treasured his children and grandchildren, and he felt immensely blessed to watch his legacy grow with the arrival of his great-grandchildren.

John’s Catholic faith was a central pillar of his life and a guiding light for his actions. He was a prominent member of St. Jude Maronite Catholic Church, where he attended Mass regularly and served in leadership roles. Having grown up without much himself, John never forgot what it felt like to go without. His faith and personal history were reflected in his boundless kindness. At Christmas time, he especially loved buying gifts for children through the Angel Tree program to ensure every child had something special to open. He befriended people from all walks of life and gave freely whatever he could, whether it was food, clothing, financial help, or an encouraging word. He was truly the kind of man who would give you the shirt off his back, doing so quietly and never for the sake of recognition.

John was preceded in death by his parents, George Smith and Helen Gibbons; his brother, Ronnie; and his cherished grandchildren, Zachary, Anthony, and Rielly Smith. He leaves behind a vast and loving family that spans generations. He is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years, Gloria Jean Smith; his children, William (Donna Smith), Greg (Catherine Smith), Lisa (Eric Hobbs), and John R. (Nicol Smith); his 14 grandchildren, Nicholas, Marissa, Christopher, Elizabeth, Mallory, Kristin, Joshua, Adam, Jessica, Jacob, Joseph, Erica, Justin, and Cameron; and his 8 great-grandchildren, Addison, Owen, Lucy, Bella, Jack, Mabel, Emilia, and Hartley. And the children of his beloved brother Steve Smith, Scott Smith, and Penny Smith Townsend.

John leaves behind a legacy found not only in the successful businesses he built, but in the family, he adored, the people he championed, and the extraordinary generosity with which he lived his life.

Service Details

• Funeral Mass: Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 11:30 a.m.

• Memorial Mass & Celebration of Life: Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 11:30 a.m.

• Location: Both services will be held at St. Jude Maronite Catholic Church, 5555 Dr. Phillips Blvd., Orlando, Florida 32819, with Father Elie Abi Chedid officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in John's memory to St. Jude Maronite Catholic Church