The Rev. Gene W. Smith, 85, of Perkasie, died May 14, 2025. He was the husband of Sara (Miller) Smith for 64 years.

Born in Topton, he was a son of the late George and Eva Smith.

Smith graduated from Brandywine Heights High School in 1957. He enjoyed playing baseball and soccer and received several trophies as a valuable player in baseball and fast-pitch softball.

Smith accepted Jesus as his Savior and Lord May 25, 1973. His life changed from being an alcoholic into a loving walk with his Savior. He received a bachelor’s degree in pastoral ministries from Fort Wayne Bible College in Fort Wayne, Ind., in 1977.

He later received a master’s degree in sacred literature in 1981. In 1983, he received a Master of Divinity Degree from Trinity Theological Seminary in Southern Illinois.

His ministry took him to several states over a period of years, pastoring churches and conducting weeklong tent revival meetings through Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maine. In 1991, Smith became pastor of a struggling church in Catasauqua. A year later, the church moved to Whitehall. He retired from the church in 2007 after a struggle with cancer.

Smith was an accomplished piano player. He ministered in song to several nursing homes in the area, including Fellowship Community for 20 years.

While at Whitehall, Smith traveled to 12 foreign countries as a missionary. In 2014, the Whitehall church extended a call to him to consider being the assistant pastor of visitation under the ministry of Rev. Doctor Timothy Schmoyer. He accepted and served for another eight years, until 2022.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Michele Heath and husband Jim; a son, Mark and wife Melissa; eight grandchildren; one nephew; three great grandchildren; and a brother, Leon and wife Diane.

Arrangements were made by Brubaker Funeral Home Inc., Catasauqua.