Joshua was born in Connersville on July 5, 1983 to Steven W. Smith and Melody Hanna. Joshua was an active member of 4-H when he was younger. He graduated in 2002 from Connersville High School. He was an electrician and was employed by L. Wood Electrical Incorporated. Josh was an avid hunter and fisherman, he belonged to Masonic Harmony Lodge #11 of Brookville, I.B.E.W. Local 855, V.F.W. of Connersville, and he was a Disabled American Veteran. He liked the movies of the Fast and the Furious. Joshua had a big heart to all that knew him, he never meet a stranger and had a host of Marine comrades.
Joshua was an exceptional athlete who excelled in football and basketball. Not only was Joshua a great athlete, but he was great at whatever he put his mind and heart into. Joshua enlisted in the Marines on November 26, 2007, and served proudly until August 8 2011. He was assigned to the second maintenance battalion where he was a light armored vehicle repair technician. Joshua was deployed to Afghanistan from November 2009 until June 2010. He received many awards and commendations, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Meritorious Mast (x3), Certificate of Commendation, NATO Metal-ISAF Afghanistan, Rifle Qualification Expert Badge and Good Conduct Medal.
Joshua is survived by his daughter: Tristen N. Smith; his mother: Melody Hanna of Connersville; his father: Steven W. Smith and his wife Rebecca of Bentonville: brothers: Ethan Smith and his wife Kimberly of Suffolk, Virginia; Anthony Reisert of Connersville; Norman Bunch and his wife Melinda of Jacksonville, North Carolina; Steven Smith Jr. of Connersville; sisters: April Lykins and Megan Snyder, both of Connersville, uncles: Eddie Hanna of Connersville; Kyle Hanna of Connersville; David Hanna of Batesville; aunt Shelia Hood of Everton and serval nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in by his step-father Robert Sheckler; his grandparents Edwin “Dude” and Nora Helen Hanna and Keller and Bertha Smith; his cousin Tina Marie Hanna.
Funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday, September 4, 2020 at Showalter Blackwell Long, Meyer Chapel, Connersville. Pastor Dennis Perkins will officiate services. Interment will follow in Dale Cemetery in Connersville. Friends may visit at the funeral home from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Friday where memorials may be made to the Chris Kyle Fund or the Wounded Warriors. Following the CDC and State COVID guidelines (masks are required and social distancing will be followed).
