Grace J. O'Hara Smith's Obituary
Grace J. O’Hara Smith (nee Ullmann), age 99, of Lorain, passed away on Saturday, January 27, 2018.
She was born on April 23, 1918 in Philadelphia, PA to Edward and Emma (nee Reichert) Ullmann. She is a graduate of Olney High School in Philadelphia and continued her education by attending classes at Temple University.
Grace resided in Lorain since moving here in the mid 1940’s after marrying her husband, T. Vance O’Hara. She also lived in Berlin Heights for 15 years after marrying her second husband, David L. Smith.
Vance and Grace are best known and fondly remembered for the store they built and established in 1950, and operated for many years, O’Hara’s Beverage. Throughout 67 years of business, their store transformed from a poultry farm/store, to being one of the first “convenience” stores in Lorain, to the beverage store it is today frequented by many. Grace could still be found working there until just a few years ago. She was well respected in the community for her dedication and kind heart.
She was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Lorain, but had also enjoyed attending many other churches as well. When she was not working, she enjoyed working on her needlepoint, playing cards, dancing, and was quite an avid reader. Grace’s true passion and devotion however was caring for her family.
She is survived by her children; Ralph (Beverly) O’Hara, of Lorain, and Althea (William) Dobbins, of Amherst, her step-children; Ralph (Sylvia) Smith, of Port Charlotte, FL, and David (Sue) Smith, of Milbury, OH, her grandchildren; Kathleen (Brant) Underwood, Kelly (Tim) Barsons, Kerry (Andrew) Melnyczenko, and Thomas O’Hara, her step-grandchildren; Annette, Cindi, Betsy, Stephanie, Jennifer, and Shelley, her great grandchildren; Kaitlyn Grace, Owen, Evan, Carson, and Colter, and her many step-great grandchildren, as well as her niece, Meta Wertz, and nephew, Carl J. Bender.
Grace was preceded in death by her husband, T. Vance O’Hara in 1965, her second husband, David L. Smith in 1985, and her parents, and sister, Althea Bender.
The family will be holding private services at a later date. Memorial contributions can be made to First Lutheran Church of Lorain 1019 W 5th St, Lorain, OH 44052 or Hospice of the Western Reserve, 17876 St. Clair Ave , Cleveland OH 44110
The Dovin and Reber Jones Funeral & Cremation Center, 1110 Cooper Foster Park Road, Amherst, is assisting the family with arrangements.
To send an online condolence, go to www.dovinreberjones.com.
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