David W. Smith

David W. Smith, age 78, of Hilliard, Ohio passed away peacefully on April 18, 2026, at The Grand in Dublin, Ohio.

Dave was born and grew up in Hershey, Pennsylvania, to Floyd and Ruby Smith. He was preceded in death by his parents, Floyd and Ruby Smith and brother, Douglas Smith.

He is survived by Marta, the love of his life with whom he shared 49 years of marriage, their children Ryan David Smith (Arta) and Jeffrey Scott Smith (Courteney), brother Dennis Smith (Kathy), sister-in-law Michele Smith, Aunt Joan, along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.

Following his graduation from Hershey High School, Dave joined the U.S. Army Reserves, reflecting a deep sense of duty to both his country and community. In his early twenties, Dave joined the Hershey Volunteer Fire Company, serving as both a firefighter and ambulance attendant. Through these roles, Dave consistently demonstrated compassion, reliability, and a willingness to help others in times of need.

Upon moving to the Columbus area, he embarked on a fulfilling career that spanned more than fifty years as an Independent Sales Representative, with a particular focus on toys and, most notably, plush products. He sparked joy and brought happiness to countless children, leaving a lasting impression across generations. Dave never met a stranger. He had a remarkable ability to connect with everyone he encountered, effortlessly starting conversations wherever life took him. His friendly nature and genuine interest in others made each interaction memorable and heartfelt.

Dave was known for his kind and generous heart, strong work ethic, love of storytelling, especially stories about Hershey, Pennsylvania and his passion for sports. He enjoyed spending time with family, singing, beach vacations, Reds baseball, Ohio State, Eagles and Bengals football. He cherished his time as a Boy Scout and took great pride in achieving the Eagle Scout award, a testament to his dedication and commitment.

Dave will be deeply missed by his family and all who knew and loved him. His warmth, sense of humor, and helpful personality touched the lives of everyone around him.

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to all those who provided compassionate care to Dave during his time at The Grand in Dublin and Transitions Hospice. Their kindness and dedication brought comfort and support to both Dave and our family, and we are truly thankful for their commitment throughout this journey.

Cremation arrangements were by Tidd Family Funeral Home. A private family celebration of David’s life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions may be made in his memory to Tunnel to Towers Foundation @ T2T.org., Hilliard Food Pantry @ hilliardfoodpantry.org or Columbus Humane @ columbushumane.org.

Condolences may be shared online at https://www.tiddfuneralservice.com.