Grahame Neville Smith

Grahame Neville William Smith was a beloved father, husband, grandfather, and friend.  His handlebar mustache, incomparable wit, and encyclopedic knowledge of the history of his two countries—England and America—were the envy of generations. He was generous with his time and his affection for those he loved, and he was unfailingly quick with both words of support and clever retorts. He had a stubborn streak a mile wide and 10 miles deep that was matched only by the breadth and depth with which he adored his family.

Grahame was born in Erdington, Warwickshire, England on November 5, 1938 to Harold Smith and Lillian Grace Parsons Smith. He studied mechanical engineering at Aston University while completing an apprenticeship with Dunlop Tire and Rubber Company. Thus began a lifetime career in tires, with stints at The Pirelli Tire Company, General Tire Company, and the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company that took him and his family all over the world. 

Grahame met his future wife, Victoria Todd, while working in Madrid for General Tire. The couple married on July 21, 1975 in Gibraltar.  They soon relocated to the United States, moving to Akron, Ohio in 1978, where they welcomed their first child, Alison, in 1979. In 1983, their international life began anew; their son, Andrew, was born in Sydney, Australia in 1984, after which the family spent 10 years in Tokyo, Japan. Singapore was next, followed by a final overseas posting to Manila, Philippines in 1998. While Grahame’s work often took him even farther afield, from Mongolia to Papua New Guinea, from South Africa to Chile and beyond, his family enjoyed an expatriate life, and Grahame often regaled friends and family with tales from far-off lands. After decades of service, Grahame retired to enjoy lakeside life in 2000. 

Grahame's hobbies kept him extremely busy during his nearly quarter-century of retired life. His passion for history, specifically the Napoleonic, the American Civil, and the two World Wars, was reflected in the hundreds of books he owned. His comprehensive knowledge of battleground tactics and strategy was astounding. He was an avid gun collector of military weapons of the 20th century and a recognized authority on German World War I military handguns. Pursuing his interest in these firearms even further, Grahame took great joy and pride in outfitting numerous spaces in the house with equipment to repair, refurbish, and recalibrate some of his prized possessions, as well as learning to recycle and press his own ammunition. He could be frequently found using his lathe, drill press, and other contraptions to accomplish his objective of honoring these historic pieces properly. His engineering background served him in good stead, and the family often challenged him to describe mechanical or industrial processes while sitting on his hands; he always gesticulated when explaining things and thus became gently frustrated by his humorous inability to talk without the use of his hands, much to Victoria's, Alison's, and Andrew's delight.

With Victoria being a professional chef, Grahame went approximately five decades without preparing a meal himself, once declaring to friends that cooking “would be like having a dog and barking yourself.” His outlandish engineer's suggestions for enhancing the cooking process by increasing the oven temperature to astronomical levels to churn out cooked food instantly was always met with love and laughter. He loved a good glass of scotch, a fine cigar and was very knowledgeable about wine.

Grahame’s love of travel did not end with his retirement. He and his family enjoyed many cruises all over the world during the last 30 years. He treasured being on the high seas with no land in sight; transatlantic crossings were his favorite. But Grahame also loved returning home where he could enjoy the company of his dearest canine and feline companions.

Grahame is survived by his wife, Victoria; his daughter, Alison; his son, Andrew; and two grandchildren, Claire and Connor; and three daughters by choice, Manisha, Sarah and Samantha.

Grahame's final days were spent at The Hospice of the Piedmont in High Point, NC. His family could not have asked for more compassionate and loving care from the angels on staff.

A celebration of life will take place in the Akron, Ohio area in the future. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the aforementioned Hospice of the Piedmont.